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NORTH  CAROLINA  GEOLOGICAL  AND  ECONOMIC  SURVEY 


JOSEPH  HYDE  PRATT,  Stale  Geologist 


ECONOMIC  PAPER  No.  37 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA 
DURING  1913 

AND 

STATE  FOREST  FIRE  PREVENTION  IN 
THE  UNITED  STATES 

0/ 


J.  S.  HOLMES,  Forester 


RALEIGH : 

E.  M.  Uzzell  & Co.,  State  Printers  and  Binders. 
1914. 


GEOLOGICAL  BOARD. 


Governor  Locke  Craig,  ex  officio  Chairman Raleigh. 

Frank  R.  Hewitt  Asheville. 

Hugh  MacRae  Wilmington. 

William  H.  Williamson  Raleigh. 

Henry  E.  Fries  Winston-Salem. 


Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist 


Chapel  Hill. 


yb'V 

h 2)  3 

7^' 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 


Chapel  Hill,  H.  C.,  July  1,  1914. 

To  His  Excellency,  Locke  Craig, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina. 

Sir  : — There  has  just  been  completed  by  the  Horth  Carolina  Geologi- 
cal and  Economic  Survey  the  collection  and  tabulation  of  statistics  re- 
garding forest  fires  in  Hortli  Carolina  during  the  past  year.  AYe  have 
also  obtained  information  regarding  what  other  States  are  doing  toward 
protecting  their  forests  from  fire  and  the  results  accomplished.  I would, 
therefore,  submit  for  publication  as  Economic  Paper,  Ho.  37,  of  the 
Reports  of  the  Horth  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey  the 
report  on  the  Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  During  1913  and  a Sum- 
mary of  State  Forest  Fire  Prevention  in  the  United  States.  This  report 
will  give  information  that  should  be  of  value  in  the  framing  of  an 
efficient  forest  policy  for  Horth  Carolina. 

Yours  respectfully, 

Joseph  Hyde  Pratt, 

State  Geologist. 


CONTENTS. 


Fobest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  During  1913.  p 

Introduction  „ 

The  Weather  

Relative  Monthly  and  Seasonal  Fire  Risk  (Table  1) 

Fire  Damage 

Summary  of  Report  by  Regions,  Comparative  Statement  (Table  2) 

Summary  of  Reports  by  Counties 

Mountain  Region  (Table  3) 

Piedmont  Region  (Table  4) 

Coastal  Plain  Region  (Table  5) 

Comparative  Statement  of  Averages  by  Regions  (Table  6) 

Causes  of  Forest  Fires 

Causes  of  Forest  Fires  in  1913  by  Regions  (Table  7) 

Improving  the  Range 

Lightning  

Incendiary  

Prosecutions  

Present  Forest  Fire  Laws = 

Conclusions  

State  Forest  Fire  Prevention  in  the  United  States. 

Lake  States  

Minnesota  

Wisconsin  

Michigan  

Northwestern  States  

Oregon  

Washington  

Idaho  

Montana  

New  England  States  

Maine  

New  Hampshire  

Vermont  

Massachusetts  

Rhode  Island  

Connecticut  

Northeastern  States 

New  York  

Pennsylvania  

New  Jersey  

Delaware  

Ohio  , 

Indiana  

Prairie  States  

South  Dakota  


’AGE 

7 

7 

. 9 

. 9 

9 

. 10 

. 10 

. 11 

. 12 

. 13 

. 14 

. 14 

. 15 

. 15 

. 10 

16 

. 17 

. IS 

. 19 

. 19 

. 27 

. 31 

34 

. 34 

36 

38 

40 

40 

41 

42 

44 

45 

47 

48 

50 

50 

53 

55 

58 

59 

60 

60 

60 


G 


CONTENTS. 


State  Forest  Fire  Prevention  in  ti-ie  United  States — Continued.  p. 

Southwestern  States  

California  

Colorado  

Southern  States  

Maryland  

West  Virginia  

Kentucky  

Virginia  

Louisiana  

Alabama  

Tennessee  

North  Carolina  

Publications  of  the  Survey 


’AGE 

- 61 

. 61 

. 63 

. 64 

. 64 

. 66 

. GS 

. 69 

. 71 

- 73 

. 74 

. 75 

. 77 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1913. 


B1-  J.  S.  HOLMES.  Forester. 


INTRODUCTION. 

Iii  making  Lis  annual  report  for  1913,  the  Chief  Fire  Warden  of  the 
Washington  Forest  Fire  Association  summarizes  the  essentials  of  forest 
fire  prevention  so  satisfactorily  that  they  might  fitly  form  a text  for  this 
report.  He  says : “This  has  been  a successful  season,  made  so  by  a com- 
bination of  circumstances,  in  having  (1)  favorable  weather;  (2)  three 
strong  patrol  organizations  working  in  unison;  and  (3)  the  cooperation 
of  the  public.” 

He  goes  on  to  say:  “By  strengthening  the  patrol  force  from  year  to 
year,  and  continuing  to  deal  fairly  with  the  public,  we  can  hope  to  make 
each  season  a successful  one,  even  though  the  weather  be  not  favorable.” 
That  is,  in  Washington  and  other  States  where  fire  prevention  is  a policy  _ 
of  the  people,  they  are  planning  to  make  the  weather  a negligible  quan- 
tity, something  that  does  not  count.  Here  in  Worth  Carolina,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  weather  is  the  only  factor  upon  which  we  can  depend  in 
dealing  with  fires. 

The  contrast  is  startling  and  alarming.  With  600  fires,  the  members 
of  the  above  association  lost  only  one  million  feet  of  timber  out  of  250 
billion  feet  protected;  while  with  about  the  same  number  of  fires  Worth 
Carolina  lost  sixty  times  as  much  timber  out  of  a total  estimated  stand 
in  the  State  of  less  than  one-sixth  of  that  protected  by  the  Washington 
Forest  Fire  Association.  Yet  our  last  year’s  season  was  comparatively 
favorable,  probably  quite  as  favorable  as  that  of  Washington.  It  was 
not  the  weather,  but  the  lack  of  any  system  of  patrol  and  the  indiffer- 
ence instead  of  the  cooperation  of  the  public,  which  made  our  propor- 
tionate loss  of  timber  nearly  400  times  as  great  as  theirs. 

Fortunately,  in  Worth  Carolina  there  is  a very  decided  growth  of 
public  opinion  in  favor  of  fire  prevention  which  will  undoubtedly  soon 
result  in  securing  definite  assistance  from  the  State. 

THE  WEATHER. 

It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  the  weather  has  more  to  do  with  the  preva- 
lence and  seriousness  of  fires  in  Worth  Carolina  than  any  other  one 
thing.  Local  weather  conditions  must  be  watched  as  closely  as  the  more 


FOREST  FIRES  IX  XORTH  CAROLINA. 


general  influences.  Even  in  a period  when  showers  are  general  there  are 
some  localities  that  get  little  or  no  rain.  Winds  are  often  more  or  less 
local.  When  a drought  and  a wind  come  together  a very  serious  fire 
hazard  is  created,  which,  combined  with  the  carelessness  or  sometimes 
the  viciousness  of  the  individual,  is  apt  to  bring  about  a state  of  destruc- 
tion such  as  visited  the  Linville  region  in  the  spring  and  Polk  County 
in  the  fall  of  1913. 

According  to  the  reports  of  the  United  States  Weather  Bureau,  we 
had  no  extensive  dry  spells  last  year.  The  annual  precipitation  for  the 
State  was  slightly  above  the  normal  and  was  well  distributed,  though 
there  was  considerable  variation  between  certain  places,  Highlands  hav- 
ing nearly  three  times  as  much  rain  as  Asheville  or  Marshall,  and  Wel- 
don having  less  than  two-thirds  the  rainfall  of  Lumberton  or  Hew  Bern. 

The  two  driest  months  were  April  and  November,  and  these  were  the 
times  our  severest  fires  occurred.  After  abundant  rains  through  Jan- 
uary and  February,  the  first  week  in  March  was  quite  dry.  Fires 
occurred  in  both  eastern  and  western  North  Carolina,  but  general  rains 
on  the  10th  prevented  any  extensive  damage.  April  was  a month  of 
light  rainfall,  though  around  the  middle  of  the  month  good  rains  were 
general.  Again  at  the  end  of  the  month  light  rains  were  reported  from 
nearly  all  stations.  It  was  not,  however,  until  towards  the  10th  of  May 
and  in  some  places  nearly  the  end  of  the  month  that  soaking  general 
rains  came  which  finally  extinguished  the  forest  fires,  which  had  been 
so  frequent  and  disastrous  through  this  period.  The  late  summer  and 
fall  was  wet  up  till  about  the  10th  of  November,  with  light  rains  around 
the  15tli.  From  then  on  to  the  end  of  the  month  the  weather  was  dry, 
especially  in  the  western  part  of  the  State,  where  some  devastating  fires 
occurred,  especially  along  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Blue  Bidge. 

The  following  table  shows  by  percentages  the  months  and  seasons  in 
which  fires  are  most  likely  to  occur.  It  is  based  not  only  on  the  records 
showing  when  fires  did  actually  occur,  but  also  on  the  opinion  of  cor- 
respondents all  over  the  State  as  to  what  is  the  most  dangerous  season. 
It  is  seen  that  the  two  fire  seasons,  spring  and  fall,  are  even  more 
strongly  emphasized  the  past  year  than  in  former  years. 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


9 


Table  1— RELATIVE  MONTHLY  AND  SEASONAL  FIRE  RISK  IN  1913  AND  AVERAGE  FOR 
THREE  YEARS.  IN  PERCENTAGES. 


1913. 

Average. 

1913. 

Average. 

March  ...  . . . . 

19 

17  ] 

31 

64 

May 

14 

13 

June.  ..  . . 

3 

5 

2 

6 ^Summer ... 

6 

16 

August 

i 

5 

September . 

2.5 

5 

October ...  ...  _ . 

8 

7 tFall 

21 

23 

November __ 

10.5 

11  ) 

December..  

5 

9 

7 

February 

3.5 

2 i 

FIRE  DAMAGE. 

The  information  from  which  the  following  tables  have  been  compiled 
has  been  voluntarily  furnished  by  nearly  700  correspondents  all  over 
the  State.  Only  seven  counties  this  year  were  unrepresented,  though 
less  than  half  the  townships  of  the  State  have  been  reported  for. 

It  should  be  kept  in  mind  that  the  figures  given  do  not  purport  to  be 
exact.  They  are  more  or  less  careful  estimates  made  hv  well  informed 
and  impartial  citizens  of  the  special  townships  for  which  they  are  re- 
porting. These  correspondents  receive  no  compensation  for  their  serv- 
ices other  than  the  knowledge  that  they  are  thereby  helping  the  move- 
ment which  will  make  their  State  a better  place  to  live  in.  They  cannot 
therefore  he  expected  to  travel  all  over  the  township,  or  to  investigate 
personally  each  fire.  Their  estimates  are,  however,  made  with  care  and 
with  due  regard  to  the  facts  in  the  case  as  far  as  they  can  he  ascertained. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  figures  are  conservative  and  represent 
less  rather  than  more  than  the  actual  damage  in  nearly  every  case. 


Table  2—  FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1913 — COMPARATIVE  STATEMENT- 
SUMMARY  OF  REPORTS  FROM  CORRESPONDENTS  BY  REGIONS. 


Mountain. 

Piedmont. 

Coastal  Plain. 

State. 

1913. 

Average 

for 

Previous 

Four 

Years. 

1913. 

Average 

for 

Previous 

Four 

Years. 

1913. 

Average 

for 

Previous 

Four 

Years. 

1913. 

Average 

for 

Previous 

Four 

Years. 

Total  number  of  townships 
in  region..  __  

166 

166 

454 

450 

370 

364 

990 

980 

N umber  of  townships  re- 
porting  . ...  

82 

61 

251 

173 

133 

124 

466 

358 

Number  of  replies  received— 

115 

66 

413 

171 

156 

112 

684 

351 

Number  of  forest  fires 
reported..  ...  _ 

126 

ISO 

258 

228 

167 

246 

551 

654 

Total  area  burnt  over,  in 
acres 

100,350 

167,708 

151,796 

98,015 

71,298 

174,758 

323,444 

440, 4S0 

10 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


Table  2.— FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1913 — COMPARATIVE  STATEMENT- 
SUMMARY  OF  REPORTS  FROM  CORRESPONDENTS  BY  REGIONS — Continued. 


Total  standing  timber'  de- 
stroyed, in  M feet,  board 

measure 

Value  of  timber  destroyed, 

in  dollars 

Area  of  young  growth  de- 
stroyed, in  acres 

Value  of  young  growth 

destroyed,  in  dollars. 

Value  of  forest  products 

destroyed,  in  dollars 

Value  of  improvements 

destroyed,  in  dollars 

Total  damage  reported,  in 

dollars 

Number  of  lives  lost 

Cost  to  private  individuals 
to  fight  fire 


Mountain. 


1913. 


7,471 
S 30,693 
56,659 
S 76,435 
S 39,612 
S 10,120 
3156,860 


S 4,116 


Average 

for 

Previous 

Four 

Years. 


28, 623 
$ 71,879 
48,265 
$ 66,985 
$ 78,361 
$ 17,642 
$236,120 


Piedmont. 


Coastal  Plain. 


State. 


1913. 


Average 

for 

Previous 

Four 

Years. 


28,439 

S 74,088 

67,691 

$193,225 

S 34,786 

S 29,615 

$331,714 

3 


S 6,922  $ 4,439 


1913 


Average 

for 

Previous 

Four 

Years. 


1913. 


Average 

for 

Previous 

Four 

Years. 


,911  23,904  21,224  59,814  57.75S 

$ 27,456  $ 66,041  S 58,268  $170,822  S 157,602 

26,078  25,572  45,425  | 149,922  120,166 

S 29,776  S 48,828  $ 76,279  $318,488  : $ 175,565 

S 66,390  $ 84,966  $ 87,736  $159,364  $ 232,487 

$ 23,242  $ 17,800  $ 26,759  $ 57,535  S 67,693 

$148,390  S217, 635  $250,422  $706,209  S 634,947 
2 3 2 


S 4,999  S 9,386  S 7,627  $ 17,941  $ 19.54S 


Table  3.— FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1913.  SUMMARY  OF  REPORTS  FROM 
CORRESPONDENTS  BY  COUNTIES. 


Mountain  Region. 


County. 

Total  Number  of 
Townships  in 
County. 

Number  of  Town- 
ships Reporting. 

Number  of 
Replies. 

Number  of  Fires. 

Total  Area  Burnt 
Over,  in  Acres. 

Merchantable 
Timber 
Destroyed,  M. 

Value  of  Timber 
Destroyed. 

Area  of  Young 
Growth  Destroy- 
ed, in  Acres. 

Value  of 
Young  Growth 
Destroyed. 

Value  of  Products 
Destroyed. 

Value  of  Improve- 
ments Destroyed. 

b£ 

.1? 

■Xt  ° . 

> s_2 

Alleghany 

8 

i 

i 

i 

40 

20 

S 100 

10 

$ 50 

$ 150 

$ 100 

.... 

15 

1 

1 

2 

700 

500 

700 

300 

200 

Avery 

7 

5 

7 

S 

15,800 

2,250 

5,725 

6,200 

23,000 

5,000 

....  500 

Buncombe 

13 

4 

5 

4 

1,300 

40 

200 

400 

200 

40 

6 

2 

3 

500 

10 

15 

100 

200 

Clay 

5 

4 

9 

12 

15,900 

800 

1,900 

6,600 

21,300 

2,200 

1,375 

....  300 

3 

3 

3 

8 

600 

1,010 

5,250 

1,250 

50 

13 

6 

8 

1,700 

300 

1,500 

900 

1,120 

5,000 

460 

8 

7 

9 

4 

850 

2 

10 

20 

1 25 

Jackson 

15 

4 

5 

5 

2,400 

5 

5 

100 

500 

700 

50 

....  29 

11 

6 

7 

4 

25 

Madison 

16 

10 

10 

10 

30,550 

374 

2,360 

25,334 

4,605 

8,012 

100 

....  432 

Mitchell 

9 

2 

100 

100 

350 

2,500 

Swain 

5 

2 

3 

7 

11,000 

70 

200 

6,000 

13,000 

17,000 

1,000 

....  1,200 

Transylvania .. 

9 

7 

12 

39 

7,600 

250 

6,750 

3.S40 

2,700 

1,300 

550 

12 

9 

13 

4 

510 

100 

218 

150 

410 

Yancey 

a 

0 

13 

8 

5,875 

2,050 

10,250 

S50 

4,400 

1,100 

2,100 

....  200 

Totals 

166 

82 

115 

126 

100,350 

7,471 

30, 693 

56, 659 

76,435 

39,612 

10,120 

....  4,116 

FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


11 


Table  4.— FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1913.  SUMMARY  OF  REPORTS  FROM 
CORRESPONDENTS  BY  COUNTIES. 


Piedmont  Region. 


County. 

Total  Number  of 
Townships  in 
County. 

Number  of  Town- 
ships Reporting. 

Number  of 
Replies. 

Number  of  Fires. 

Total  Area  Burnt 
Over,  in  Acres. 

Merchantable 
Timber 
Destroyed,  M. 

Value  of  Timber 
Destroyed. 

Area  of  Young 
Growth  Destroy- 
ed, in  Acres. 

Value  of 
Young  Growth 
Destroyed. 

Value  of  Products 
Destroyed. 

Value  of  Improve- 
ments Destroyed. 

Lives  Lost. 

Cost  of  Fighting 
Fire. 

13 

12 

21 

1 

40 

s 

40 

S 100 

$ 

s 

s 

8 

7 

10 

6 

520 

10 

275 

517 

320 

200 

200 

5 

8 

12 

6 

6 

10 

86,000 

25 



20,550 

4 

52,200 

31,000 

86,000 

4,500 

2,000 

5,000 

1,250 

12 

20 

1 

20 

12 

2 

5 

2,000 

2 

200 

1,200 

500 

1,000 

1,000 

, 

100 

9 

6 

7 

1 

8 

7 

1 

3 

14 

9 

4 

503 

25 

510 

10 

800 

11 

8 

2 

200 

110 

520 

100 

100 

10 

17 

6 

8 

2 

75 

CO 

100 

10 

50 

200 

6,000 

7 

7 

23 

2 

250 

6 

2 

2 

1 

10 

10 

14 

8 

2 

3 

3 

15 

10 

18 

2,200 

126 

195 

1,360 

16 

590 

2,500 

3,200 

2,000 

100 

6 

3 

6 

500 

300 

225 

9 

7 

10 

3 

24 

45 

2 

18 

10 

11 

2 

15 

250 

5 

7 

16 

12 

3 

150 
___  . 

200 

200 

50 

200 

300 

500 

1 

50 

7 

3 

4 

2 

2 

11 

4 

6 

10 

7,018 

30 

2,000 

5,200 

150 

3,518 

15,036 

236 

1,200 

566 

Mecklenburg- 
Montgomery 

11 

19 

3 

11 

8 

9 

2 

2,020 

55 

135 

1,000 

200 

100 

250 

20 

9 

8 

12 

6,050 

60 

50 

100 

4,420 

60 

8,100 

160 

16,000 

5,900 

825 

3 

6 

5 

9 

4 

4 

2 

49 

49 

475 

Polk 

6 

6 

13 

27 

28,080 

1,101 

2,200 

12,000 

72,400 

1,600 

1,200 

600 

19 

6 

9 

ii 

5 

2 

Rowan. 

14 

10 

16 

5 

500 

102 

175 

300 

650 

900 

500 

210 

Rutherford 

12 

7 

6 

14 

6,850 

2,120 

2,350 

5,700 

2,300 

575 

3,100 



120 

$ 

1 

1 

2 

60 

7 

30 

20 

200 

500 

8 

2 

4 

14 

12 

21 

8 

194 

100 

650 

55 

700 

1,550 

250 

100 

9 

5 

6 

9 

8 

2 

15 

10 

19 

2 

2 

12 

8 

34 

4,740 

4,105 

129 

35 

3,315 

5,900 

924 

500 

550 

100 

Wilkes 

21 

17 

34 

19 

910 

2,952 

390 

1,802 

750 

1,015 

316 

8 

8 

13 

8 

90 

110 

175 

825 

1,700 

55 

Totals 

454 

251 

413 

258 

151,796 

28,439 

74,088 

67,691 

193,225 

34,786 

29,615 

1 

4,439 

12 


FOREST  FIRES  1ST  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


Table  5.— FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1913.  SUMMARY  OF  REPORTS  FROM 
CORRESPONDENTS  BY  COUNTIES. 


Coastal  Plain  Region. 


County. 

Total  Number  of 
Townships  in 
County. 

Number  of  Town- 
ships Reporting. 

Number  of 
Replies. 

Number  of  Fires. 

Total  Area  Burnt 
Over,  in  Acres. 

Merchantable 
Timber 
Destroyed,  M. 

Value  of  Timber 
Destroyed. 

Area  of  Young 
Growth  Destroy- 
ed, in  Acres. 

Value  of 
Young  Growth 
Destroyed. 

Value  of  Products 
Destroyed. 

Value  of  Improve- 
ments Destroyed. 

fc£ 

© O 

> ® ft- 

6 

4 

4 

2 

2,100 

$4, 150 

10 

S 50 

$ 

Bertie.  __  _ _ 

9 

7 

12 

n 

7,771 

1,875 

7, 650 

4,150 

550 

5,200 

2,650 

3,225 

2 

2 

6 

3 

1 

1 

9 

1 

1 

4 

3 

3 

i 

Columbus 

14 

8 

15 

17 

17,100 

730 

1,680 

2,833 

2,533 

6,500 

1,300 

— - 1,025 

9 

4 

4 

3 

2,000 

500 

1,500 

2,000 

Cumberland 

11 

4 

3 

4 

4,025 

5,000 

5,000 

500 

1,000 

6,000 

400 

....  325 

2 

3 

3 

300 

150 

300 

500 

13 

3 

3 

2 

40 

100 

150 

30 

200 

Edgecombe 

14 

2 

2 

2 

100 

10 

40 

10 

50 

90 

100 

15 

7 

9 

2 

2 

Halifax 

12 

1 

i 

3 

1,200 

100 

150 

1,200 

3,500 

2,000 

1,000 

100 

13 

8 

ii 

11 

2,100 

200 

1,300 

150 

1,500 

7,700 

2,800 

6 

2 

2 

Hoke  . 

1 

1 

1 

150 

10 

25 

1,000 

500 

100 

4 

1 

1 

Johnston 

17 

6 

8 

11 

300 

40 

120 

100 

500 

200 

150 

100 

7 

1 

1 

1 

1,000 

Lenoir..  __ 

12 

6 

6 

7 

860 

90 

375 

675 

300 

11,035 

455 

90 

10 



Nash 

14 

6 

6 

16 

3,520 

532 

1,056 

2,467 

5,770 

5,506 

800 

1,426 

4 

9 

6 

7 

1 

20 

2 

10 

10 

25 

Onslow 

5 

3 

3 

5 

2,500 

200 

750 

1,100 

600 

1,025 

....  25 

Pamlico _ 

4 

3 

4 

6 

2,300 

1,100 

1,900 

700 

1,500 

15,000 

....  1,000 

6 

Pender 

10 

5 

5 

15 

4,300 

450 

2,300 

8,500 

24.S00 

3,600 

6,400 

220 

Perquimans 

5 

3 

2 

5 

2,300 

2,000 

10,000 

650 

1,700 

1,500 

150 

....  2.5 

11 

4 

4 

2 

1,000 

500 

1,500 

500 

2,500 

1 

1 

2 

500 

19 

9 

12 

15 

11,210 

10,020 

25,060 

650 

1,190 

110  , 

600 

16 

9 

11 

22 

25 

125 

12 

60 

4 

2 

2 

4 

3,100 

100 

100 

300 

5 

4 

3 

3 

2 1 

1,000 

100 

500 

1,000 

200 

200 

12 

7 

3 

280 

70 

200 

100 

10.300 

100 

....  1,010 

Wilson . 

10 

3 

3 

5 ! 

200 

100 

400 

75 

200 

5,000 

1,000 

50 

Totals 

370 

133 

156 

167 

71,298 

23,904 

66,041 

25,572 

4S,S2S 

S4.966 

17.S00 

....  9.3S6 

FOREST  FIEES  IN'  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


13 


Table  6.— FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1913.  COMPARATIVE  STATEMENT 
OF  AVERAGES  BY  REGIONS  FOR  1913  AND  FOR  FOUR  PREVIOUS  YEARS. 


Moun- 

tain, 

1913. 

Average 

for 

Previous 

Four 

Years. 

Pied- 

mont, 

1913. 

Average 

for 

Previous 

Four 

Years. 

Costal 

Plain, 

1913. 

Average 

for 

Previous 

Four 

Years. 

State, 

1913. 

Average 

for 

Previous 

Four 

Years. 

Percentage  of  townships 

reporting 

49 

37 

55 

38 

36 

34 

47 

36.5 

Average  area  of  each  fire,  in 

acres  

Average  damage  by  each 

796 

1,036 

588 

447 

427 

707 

587 

673 

fire,  in  dollars 

Average  area  burnt  over  per 

S 1,240 

S 1,506 

S 1,236 

S 648 

S 1,303 

$ 1,024 

S 1,282 

$ 968 

township  reporting,  in 

acres . _ 

1,223 

*2,042 

1,605 

*576 

536 

*1,565 

694 

*1,1S9 

Average  damage  per  acre 

burnt,  in  dollars 

S 1.56 

$ 1.18 

S 2.19 

$ 1.52 

S 3.05 

S 1.45 

$ 2.18 

$ 1.34 

Average  damage  per  town- 

ship  reporting,  in  dollars.. 

-S  1,913 

$ 3,871 

S 1,322 

S 858 

S 1,636 

S 2,020 

$ 1,515 

3 1,774 

*For  the  years  1912,  1911,  and  1910.  No  township  figures  for  1909. 


From  tlie  above  tables  it  is  seen  that  tbougb  tbe  damage  from  forest 
fires  was  considerably  less  in  1913  than  in  tbe  previous  year,  yet  tbe  loss 
was  above  tbe  average  for  tbe  past  five  years,  and  tbis  in  tbe  face  of  not 
specially  unfavorable  weather  conditions. 

Tbis  somewhat  abnormal  damage  is  no  doubt  due  in  part  to  tbe  30  per 
cent  increase  in  tbe  number  of  townships  reporting.  Too  much  stress, 
however,  must  not  be  laid  on  this  fact,  as  tbe  increase  in  tbe  number  of 
replies  came  largely  from  tbe  Piedmont  region,  over  tbe  greater  part  of 
which  serious  fires  are  rare. 

Tbe  growing  realization  of  tbe  value  of  unmerchantable  young  growth 
is  perhaps  tbe  chief  reason  for  tbe  apparently  high  money  loss.  Whereas 
in  1911,  tbe  first  year  any  general  estimate  was  placed  on  destroyed 
young  growth,  tbe  loss  from  tbis  one  cause  amounted  to  only  25  per  cent 
of  tbe  total  damage,  in  1912  it  comprised  33  per  cent,  while  in  1913  it 
has  increased  to  45  per  cent  of  tbe  total  estimated  damage.  An  instance 
of  tbe  growing  recognition  of  tbe  destructiveness  of  woods  fires  comes 
from  Transylvania  County.  A farmer  there  claimed  $300  reduction  in 
tbe  tax  valuation  of  bis  place  because  300  acres  bad  been  burnt  over. 
Tbis  reduction  was  granted  by  the  county  commissioners.  Tbe  county 
therefore  lost  several  dollars  in  taxes  every  year  from  that  one  fire, 
besides  tbe  much  more  serious  loss  sustained  by  tbe  farmer. 

In  Worth  Carolina  the  destruction  of  mature  timber  is  only  a small 
part  of  tbe  fire  damage,  because  tbe  usual  surface  fires,  unless  occurring 
late  in  tbe  spring,  do  not  kill  tbe  larger  trees.  For  tbis  reason  tbe  value 
of  tbe  reproduction  and  young  growth  destroyed  necessarily  assumes 
large  proportions. 


14 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


Tlie  very  serious  annual  loss  from  forest  fires  can  perhaps  best  he 
brought  out  by  a comparison.  The  average  loss  from  fires  in  North 
Carolina  for  the  past  five  years  has  been  about  $650,000  a year.  This  is 
equivalent  to  a tax  levy  of  36  cents  on  the  $100  on  all  the  land  in  the 
State,  or  a tax  of  13  cents  on  the  $100  on  all  property,  real  and  personal, 
now  listed  for  taxation.  How  quickly  would  this  fire  tax  he  done  away 
with  if  it  came  in  the  form  of  a regular  tax  levy!  Yet  the  fire  tax  is 
paid  year  after  year  by  the  people  of  North  Carolina  without  a murmur. 
One  or  two  per  cent  of  the  amount  lost,  if  properly  spent  hv  the  State, 
would  reduce  the  fire  damage  one-half  the  first  year,  and  not  only  save 
much  valuable  property  belonging  to  our  citizens,  hut  insure  the  future 
well-being  of  our  State. 


CAUSES  OF  FOREST  FIRES. 


The  relative  importance  of  the  different  causes  of  forest  fires  in  North 
Carolina,  as  given  in  the  following  table,  does  not  vary  very  widely  from 
that  shown  by  the  investigations  of  previous  years.  The  carelessness  of 
the  individual  was  responsible  for  a still  larger  proportion  of  fires,  46.5 
per  cent  coming  under  this  general  heading,  compared  with  45  per  cent 
in  1912,  and  42  per  cent  the  previous  year. 


Table  7— CAUSES  OF  FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  IN  1913  BY  REGIONS,  COM- 
PARED WITH  THE  PREVIOUS  FOUR  YEARS,  IN  PERCENTAGES 


Mountain. 

Piedmont. 

Coastal 

Plain. 

State. 

Four 

Years, 

State. 

Farmers  burning  brush,  grass,  rubbish,  etc. 

14.5 

18.5 

6 

13.5 

n 

Hunters . _ _ -- 

25.5 

8.5 

3.5 

10.5 

12 

Cigars,  cigarettes,  matches,  etc . 

3.5 

3 

2.5 

3 

2.5 

Carelessness . __  ___ 

12.5 

17.5 

26.5 

19.5 

19 

Railroad  locomotives,  sparks  from 

2 

17.5 

20 

15 

19 

Logging  locomotives,  dummy  engines,  etc. 

9 

13 

6 

7.5 

Sawmills,  etc _ __ 

2 

10.5 

5 

7 

4 

4 

.25 

Accidental,  caught  from  burning  build- 

.5 

1 

4 

3.5 

Set  by  chestnut-gatherers,  root-diggers, 

2 

2 

i 

1 

2 

1 

i 

4 

Malice  or  incendiary 

12.5 

6.5 

2.5 

Unknown  causes _ 

9 

9 

13 

10.5 

7 

2.5 

1 

i 

3.5 

1 

1 

2 

.25 

Farmers  and  hunters  seem  to  he  the  chief  offenders.  The  former  were 
said  to  he  responsible  for  nearly  one-fifth  of  the  fires  occurring  in  the 
Piedmont  region.  Careless  handling  of  fire  in  burning  brush,  stumps, 
rubbish,  grass,  and  leaves  when  too  dry  or  when  the  wind  is  too  high. 


FOREST  FIRES  1ST  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


15 


most  commonly  in  the  spring,  is  not  confined  to  the  small  renters,  hut  is 
a fault  of  many  of  our  best  land-owning  citizens.  Allowing  boys  or  other 
irresponsible  persons  to  burn  in  dry  weather  is  on  a par  with  letting 
children  play  with  loaded  guns. 

In  nine  cases  out  of  ten  hunters  are  not  the  owners  of  the  land  over 
which  they  hunt,  and  whether  they  are  bird  hunters  from  the  town  or 
opossum  hunters  from  the  adjoining  plantation,  they  apparently  feel 
little  or  no  responsibility  about  the  occurrence  of  fires.  The  recent 
amendment  to  the  camp-fire  law,  making  hunters  responsible  for  camp- 
fires left  unextinguished,  seems  as  yet  to  have  had  no  appreciable  effect, 
as  no  prosecutions  of  hunters  have  been  reported.  The  new  amendment 
to  the  old  law,  though  an  improvement,  is  not  sufficient.  Men  will  not 
prosecute  their  neighbors  for  what  appears  to  be  simply  carelessness. 
Grand  jurymen,  who  are  the  only  State  officials  who  can  take  the  initia- 
tive in  such  investigations,  have  not  the  time  or  the  opportunity  to  look 
up  the  evidence  in  forest  fire  cases.  Such  work  must  be  done  at  the  time 
of  and  immediately  succeeding  the  fire.  Township  forest  wardens,  re- 
sponsible directly  to  the  State,  whose  special  duty  it  is  to  prevent,  extin- 
guish, and  investigate  forest  fires,  are  the  only  officials  who  can  control 
this  nuisance. 

IMPROVING  THE  RANGE. 

The  Coastal  Plain  region  is  the  only  part  of  the  State  where  the  prac- 
tice of  starting  fires  for  the  purpose  of  furnishing  early  feed  for  cattle 
is  common.  One  reports  that  the  chief  cause  of  fires  is  “burning  the 
woods  for  pasture  for  cattle,”  while  another  says : “Out  in  the  back- 

woods,  where  there  is  not  much  timber,  the  woods  are  set  on  fire  and 
burnt  off  for  grazing  purposes.”  It  is  in  just  such  places,  “where  there 
is  not  much  timber,”  that  the  young  timber  growth  is  needed  to  fill  up  the 
openings  and  provide  for  a second-growth  forest.  The  total  assessed 
value  of  cattle  grazing  on  these  open-range  lands  is  15  cents  per  acre, 
and  yet  for  this  pittance  young  timber  is  destroyed  which  would  yield  ten 
times  this  revenue,  not  only  to  the  owner  of  the  land,  but  also  to  the  com- 
munity at  large. 

LIGHTNING. 

Electrical  storms  were  more  frequent  and  severer  during  the  summer 
of  1913  than  for  many  years.  Throughout  the  State  many  trees  and 
houses  were  struck  and  much  live  stock  was  killed.  Yet  so  far  as  can 
be  ascertained,  only  two  forest  fires  were  caused  by  lightning,  and  these 
were  in  the  adjoining  counties  of  Cumberland  and  Harnett.  This  is  in 
strong  contrast  to  reports  from  the  western  States,  where— in  California, 
for  example — half  the  fires  on  the  National  Forests  were  started  by 
lightning.  In  that  State  more  fires  were  set  in  this  way  on  the  National 


16 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


Forests  alone  tlian  were  reported  for  the  whole  State  of  Xorth  Caro- 
lina. We  are  fortunate  in  having  so  few  fires  which  are  unpreventahle. 

INCENDIARY. 

S;  - . . 

Malicious  setting  fire  to  the  woods  in  order  to  destroy  property  or  to 
conceal  crime  is  comparatively  rare  in  Xorth  Carolina.  The  last  report 
showed  that  7 per  cent  of  the  replies  gave  this  as  the  chief  cause  of 
fires.  In  1912  18  per  cent  of  the  Mountain  fires  and  10  per  cent  of  the 
Piedmont  fires  were  said  to  have  been  of  incendiary  origin ; while  this 
year  the  number  has  come  down  to  7 per  cent,  which  is  the  average  for 
the  past  five  years. 

One  rather  remarkable  feature  of  this  year’s  report  is  that  the  ma- 
jority of  the  reported  incendiary  fires  occurred  in  one  county,  and  that 
most  of  the  remainder  were  in  three  other  counties  in  the  same  imme- 
diate region.  In  1912  Transylvania  suffered  more  from  forest  fires 
than  any  other  county  in  the  State,  the  reported  loss  running  up  into 
the  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars.  In  1913,  though  the  total  reported 
damage  was  less  than  in  Polk,  the  number  of  fires  was  greater  than  in 
any  other  county,  Polk  having  about  two-thirds  as  many.  In  six  out  of 
seven  townships  in  the  former  county  incendiarism  was  assigned  as  the 
chief  cause  of  fires,  while  in  three  out  of  six  townships  in  Polk  the  same 
cause  was  given.  These  two  counties  seem  to  have  had  more  incendiary 
fires  than  all  the  rest  of  the  State  put  together.  Some  were  set  by 
“blockaders  to  disguise  their  stills,”  but  the  greater  part  were  probably 
started  with  the  idea  of  getting  even  for  some  real  or  fancied  grievance. 
The  fact  is  generally  lost  sight  of  that  while  the  owner  of  the  land  loses 
by  fire  the  value  of  his  stumpage,  the  community  loses  twice  as  much 
in  the  value  of  the  labor  it  would  take  to  manufacture  that  timber  and 
put  it  on  the  market. 

PROSECUTIONS. 

Under  the  present  law  practically  the  only  action  that  can  he  taken 
against  one  who  sets  out  fire  is  personal  prosecution.  Such  action  is 
almost  never  taken  against  individuals,  chiefly  because  a private  citizen 
objects  to  making  a personal  matter  of  what  is  really  the  concern  of  the 
community  or  of  the  State. 

The  weakness  of  the  present  situation  is  illustrated  by  conditions  in 
Transylvania  County,  which  is  not  very  different  from  other  parts  of 
the  State.  This  county  reports  39  fires,  most  of  which  were  of  incen- 
diary origin.  One  correspondent,  when  asked  if  any  one  had  been  prose- 
cuted for  setting  fires,  replies:  “Xo!  Xo!!  Xo!!!  and  I should  like  to 
know  why.”  The  reason  is  that  our  forest  laws  are  antiquated  and  ma- 
chinery for  their  enforcement  is  entirely  lacking.  Even  in  Polk  County, 
where,  since  the  severe  fires  of  last  Xovember,  the  citizens  have  organ- 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


17 


ized  a Forestry  Club,  have  employed  a forest  warden,  and  offered  a 
reward  for  evidence  sufficient  to  convict  any  one  of  setting  fires,  no  one 
has  yet  been  punished.  However,  such  an  active  and  decided  step  will 
undoubtedly  tend  to  prevent  many  fires  in  the  future. 

The  sum  total  of  prosecutions  in  North  Carolina  for  1913  seems  to 
be  five.  Three  of  these  were  civil  suits  for  damages,  all  of  which  were 
still  pending  at  the  end  of  the  year.  Iredell  has  the  distinction  of  being 
the  only  county,  out  of  eighty  reporting  forest  fires,  in  which  individuals 
were  prosecuted  and  punished  for  setting  fires.  Although  “just  a small 
fine”  was  imposed,  the  good  effect  of  this  example  will  no  doubt  be  felt 
far  beyond  the  county  lines. 

Railroads  usually  pay  damages,  where  a claim  is  made,  without  letting 
the  matter  go  to  court.  Five  cases  of  settlement  for  damages  by  rail- 
roads were  reported  for  1913,  and  no  doubt  there  were  others  that  were 
not  heard  of. 

Such  a remarkable  lack  of  prosecutions  must  mean  one  of  two  things : 
either  the  average  citizen  is  indifferent  to  fires,  or  else  the  procedure  is 
absolutely  inadequate.  The  first  is  not  the  case,  judging  from  the  corre- 
spondents, many  of  whom  speak  strongly  against  the  people  who  pur- 
posely or  carelessly  set  fire  to  the  woods.  From  the  east  as  well  as  the 
west  come  such  expressions  as,  “Hunters,  villains,  idiots” ; “Carelessness 
and  cussedness,  cussedness  mostly” ; while  only  one  or  two  of  the  whole 
number  of  correspondents  attempt  feebly  to  defend  the  practice.  The 
sentiment  against  burning  is  well-nigh  universal  amongst  land-owning 
North  Carolinians.  It  must  he,  then,  that  our  present  laws  are  not 
strong  enough  or  comprehensive  enough  to  furnish  adequate  protection. 

PRESENT  FOREST  FIRE  LAWS. 

Only  two  sections  of  North  Carolina  law,  dealing  respectively  with 
setting  fires  in  the  woods  and  leaving  camp  fires  unextinguislied,  are  of 
State-wide  application.  These  two  laws  were  printed  in  full  in  Eco- 
nomic Papers  25  and  33,  but  are  again  copied  here  for  convenience  of 
reference : 

Section  3346.  Woods.  If  any  person  shall  set  fire  to  any  woods,  except 
it  be  his  own  property  or,  in  that  case,  without  first  giving  notice  in  writing 
to  all  persons  owning  lands  adjoining  to  the  woodlands  intended  to  he  fired, 
at  least  two  days  before  the  time  of  firing  such  woods,  and  also  taking  effect- 
ual care  to  extinguish  such  fire  before  it  shall  reach  any  vacant  or  patented 
lands  near  to  or  adjoining  the  lands  so  fired,  he  shall,  for  every  such  offense, 
forfeit  and  pay  to  any  person  who  shall  sue  for  the  same,  fifty  dollars,  and  be 
liable  to  any  one  injured  in  an  action,  and  shall  moreover  be  guilty  of  a mis- 
demeanor.* 

*Revisal  of  1905. 

2 


18 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


Section  3347.  Woods,  from  Camp  Fires.  If  any  wagoner  or  other  person 
encamping  in  the  open  air  shall  leave  his  camp  without  totally  extinguishing 
the  camp  tires,  or  hunter  who  shall  set  tire  to  any  tree,  stump,  or  other  com- 
bustible matter  and  leave  without  totally  extinguishing  such  tire,  he  shall  be 
guilty  of  a misdemeanor,  and  upon  conviction  thereof  shall  be  fined  not  ex- 
ceeding fifty  dollars  or  imprisoned  not  exceeding  thirty  days.f 

These  two  laws  are  good  as  far  as  they  go,  hut  they  were  enacted  many 
years  ago  when  conditions  were  very  different  from  what  they  are  today. 
During  the  past  five  years,  while  the  State  has  lost  upwards  of  three 
million  dollars  by  fires,  these  laws  have  probably  not  been  invoked  half 
a dozen  times. 

CONCLUSIONS. 

For  the  purpose  of  information  and  comparison,  and  with  the  hope 
that  the  woodland  owners  of  ISTorth  Carolina  may  be  led  to  demand  that 
protection  from  forest  fires  which  is  their  right  and  which  the  citizens 
of  other  States  enjoy,  the  remainder  of  this  report  is  devoted  to  some 
account  of  what  other  States  are  doing  to  reduce  the  fire  menace. 

Last  year’s  report  (Economic  Paper  33),  besides  giving  the  report  on 
Forest  Fires  in  Worth  Carolina  during  1912,  contained  some  account  of 
Federal  Forest  Protection  in  the  United  States  as  wnll  as  recent  develop- 
ments in  cooperative  fire  control.  Under  the  former  heading  were  taken 
up  in  a general  way  fire  protection  on  the  National  forests  and  National 
forest  fire  laws,  together  with  a brief  account  of  what  the  other  depart- 
ments of  the  Government  are  doing  to  help  in  the  work  of  protection. 
Cooperative  fire  control  was  briefly  taken  up  as  offered  to  the  various 
States  by  the  Federal  Government  under  the  Weeks  law.  The  splendid 
work  being  done  by  the  various  timberland  owners’  protective  associa- 
tions was  outlined  and  the  beginnings  of  railroad  cooperation  con- 
sidered. 

The  conclusion  was  reached  that  in  order  to  successfully  control  forest 
fires  both  organization  and  cooperation  are  essential.  Organization  must 
originate  with  and  be  maintained  by  the  State,  and  the  State  must  act 
first.  As  soon  as  an  organization  is  started,  full  cooperation  can  be 
secured  from  the  Federal  Government  under  the  Weeks  law.  In  States 
containing  National  forests,  such  as  Worth  Carolina,  assistance  can  also 
be  secured  from  the  Forest  Administration.  Experience  has  shown  that 
the  cooperation  of  timberland  owners  and  lumbermen,  and  then  of  the 
railroads  and  other  corporations,  will  quickly  follow  the  State’s  initia- 
tive. The  State,  however,  must  take  the  lead. 


fRevisal  of  1905,  as  amended  in  1913. 


STATE  FOREST  FIRE  PREVENTION  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


THE  LAKE  STATES. 

Tor  many  years  what  is  known  as  tlie  Lake  Region  was  the  center  of 
the  lumber  industry  in  this  country.  For  the  past  two  or  three  decades, 
however,  the  output  of  lumber  from  these  three  States  (Minnesota,  Wis- 
consin, and  Michigan),  which  have  supplied  the  white  pine  of  com- 
merce, has  been  declining,  until  now  the  production  of  lumber  is  of 
yearly  decreasing  importance.  For  many  years  some  of  the  worst  forest 
fires  of  the  country  have  raged  through  the  cut-over  lands  as  well  as  the 
virgin  forests  of  these  States,  causing  untold  loss  of  property  and  the 
sacrifice  of  hundreds  of  lives.  Since  the  inauguration  of  efficient  fire 
protection,  however,  the  annual  damage  has  been  greatly  reduced. 

MINNESOTA. 

Minnesota  has  an  approximate  area  of  52,000,000  acres.  According 
to  the  estimate  of  the  State  Forester,  of  the  28,000,000  acres  of  forested 
land  in  the  State,  about  13,000,000  acres  will  eventually  be  cleared  for 
farming.  The  remaining  15,000,000  acres,  because  of  its  character,  will 
probably  always  remain  in  forest. 

This  State  has  for  many  years  been  one  of  the  foremost  in  fire  pro- 
tective legislation.  As  early  as  1895  what  were  then  advanced  forestry 
laws  were  passed.  These  have  been  amended  and  added  to  from  time  to 
time,  until  in  1911  the  present  law,  which  is  perhaps  the  best  in  the 
United  States,  was  enacted.  This  was  again  amended  and  greatly 
strengthened  in  1913. 

An  Early  Fire  Law. — The  forest  law  as  passed  in  1895  and  amended 
in  1903  provides : 

(1)  For  a forest  commissioner,  who  shall  be  supreme  in  all  matters 
relating  to  the  preservation  of  forests  and  for  the  prevention  and  sup- 
pression of  forest  fires. 

(2)  For  a fire  warden  system  consisting  of  the  supervisors  of  town- 
ships, the  mayors  of  cities,  and  the  presidents  of  village  councils  in  what 
are  called  organized  townships,  and  wardens  appointed  by  the  forest 
commissioner  in  an  organized  territory. 

(3)  The  appointment  of  a chief  fire  warden  by  the  forest  commis- 
sioner to  he  in  supreme  charge  of  the  fire  fighting  and  administer  the 


20 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


forest  fire  laws  of  the  State.  During  dry  and  dangerous  seasons  the  chief 
fire  warden  was  to  use  such  means  under  his  command  as  he  might  deem 
necessary  to  prevent  or  suppress  fires,  his  expenses  to  be  paid  by  the 
State,  with  the  proviso,  however,  that  his  total  expenses  in  one  year 
should  not  exceed  $5,000. 

(4)  It  was  the  duty  of  fire  wardens  to  take  precautions  to  prevent  the 
setting  of  forest  and  prairie  fires,  to  patrol  in  dry  seasons  and,  when 
necessary,  to  employ  one  or  more  extra  patrols,  to  warn  against  careless 
use  of  fire,  to  control  forest  fires,  to  call  for  assistance,  in  emergencies, 
on  any  able-bodied  male  person  over  18  years  of  age,  who,  if  refusing  to 
go,  was  liable  to  a fine  of  not  exceeding  $100. 

(5)  Both  the  chief  fire  warden  and  the  fire  wardens  under  him  were 
given  the  powers  of  arrest  without  warrant  for  any  violation  of  the 
forest  laws,  and  were  required  to  institute  suits  against  offenders.  It 
was  their  duty  also  to  inquire  into  the  cause  of  each  fire  in  their  district 
and  report  to  the  chief  fire  warden.  Compensation  was  fixed  at  $2  per 
day,  together  with  necessaiy  expenses,  and  $1.50  per  day  for  assistants 
hired  by  the  wardens. 

(6)  One-third  of  the  total  cost  of  fire  protection,  outside  of  the  salary 
of  the  chief  fire  warden,  was  paid  hv  the  county  and  two-thirds  by  the 
State. 

(7)  Strong  provisions  against  setting  forest  fires,  either  willfully,  neg- 
ligently, carelessly,  or  maliciously,  were  incorporated  in  the  law. 

(8)  The  total  appropriation  for  carrying  out  this  scheme  of  fire  pro- 
tection was  $5,000  for  payment  of  wardens  and  their  expenses,  and 
$1,000  for  prosecuting  offenders. 

It  was  found  by  experience  that  this  law  was  inadequate  in  several 
particulars,  notably  in  the  unequal  protection  furnished  by  the  various 
organized  townships  and  in  the  inadequacy  of  the  appropriation.  The 
present  law,  which  was  passed  in  1911  and  strengthened  by  the  Legisla- 
ture in  1913,  is  in  many  respects  the  best  State  law  now  in  force  in  this 
country.  Several  important  sections  will  therefore  be  quoted  in  full  so 
that  a basis  of  comparison  may  he  had  for  the  laws  of  other  States. 

The  strongest  and  most  essential  features  of  the  Minnesota  law  are 
the  appointment  of  a competent  and  well  paid  forester  who  has  supreme 
control  of  all  fire  preventive  measures,  including  a fire  warden  system 
composed  of  men  whose  chief,  and  in  many  cases  only,  duties  are  to  act 
as  fire  wardens ; a strong  law  for  the  inspection  and  control  of  railroad 
engines,  and  a law  which  puts  into  the  hands  of  the  State  Forester  the 
power  to  make  and  enforce  regulations  for  slash  disposal. 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


21 


ORGANIZATION  OF  STATE  FOREST  SERVICE. 

State  Forestry  Board. — “There  shall  be  a State  Forestry  Board  of  nine 
members,  composed  of  the  director  of  the  Forestry  School  and  the  dean  of 
the  Agricultural  College  of  the  University  of  Minnesota,  and  seven  others  ap- 
pointed by  the  Governor  for  a term  of  four  years  and  until  their  successors 
qualify.  Two  of  said  members  shall  be  appointed  upon  the  recommendation 
of  the  regents  of  the  University,  and  one  shall  be  appointed  upon  the  recom- 
mendation of  each  of  the  following  bodies:  The  State  Agricultural  Society, 

the  State  Horticultural  Society,  and  the  State  Game  and  Fish  Commission : 
Provided  suitable  persons  be  recommended  by  them  to  the  Governor  not  later 
than  January  31st  of  the  year  in  which  such  terms  expire.  All  vacancies 
shall  be  filled  the  same  as  the  original  appointments.  The  members  now  in 
office  shall  hold  through  the  terms  for  which  they  were  respectively  ap- 
pointed. So  far  as  practicable,  all  such  appointees  shall  be  appointed  wuth 
reference  to  their  knowledge  of  and  interest  in  the  planting  and  cultivation 
of  trees  in  prairie  regions,  the  preservation  of  natural  forests,  the  reforesting 
of  denuded  lands  and  the  protection  of  the  sources  of  streams.” 

Chief  among  its  duties,  the  law  provides  that  the  State  Forestry  Board 
“shall  have  the  management  of  the  forest  reserves  and  of  all  other  prop- 
erty acquired  therefor,  supervise  all  matters  of  forest  protection  and 
reforestation  and  have  charge  of  all  moneys  appropriated  therefor  or 
accruing  therefrom,  including  the  forest  reserve  fund  and  the  forest 
service  fund.” 

State  Forester. — “The  board  shall  appoint  a State  Forester  who  shall  be  a 
trained  forester,  at  a salary  not  to  exceed  four  thousand  dollars  ($4,000)  per 
annum,  and  he  shall  be  allowed  necessary  traveling  and  field  expenses 
incurred  in  the  conduct  of  his  official  duties.  The  office  of  the  State  Forester 
shall  be  at  the  State  capital,  and  the  board  is  hereby  authorized  to  employ  such 
office  assistants  as  may  be  necessary  and  to  fix  their  compensation.  The  State 
Forester,  with  the  approval  of  the  State  Forestry  Board,  may  appoint  an 
assistant  forester  and  such  other  employees,  outside  of  the  office  assistants, 
as  may  be  necessary  in  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  this  act,  and  fix  the 
amount  of  their  compensation.  The  State  Forester  shall  execute  all  rules  and 
regulations  issued  by  the  State  Forestry  Board  pertaining  to  forestry  and 
forest  protection  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  State ; have  charge  of  the 
work  of  protecting  all  forests-and  lands  from  fire;  shall  investigate  the  origin 
of  all  forest  fires  and  prosecute  all  violators  of  this  act ; shall  prepare  and 
print  for  public  distribution  an  abstract  of  the  forest  fire  laws  of  Minnesota, 
together  with  such  rules  and  regulations  as  may  be  formulated  by  the  State 
Forestry  Board.  He  shall  prepare  printed  notices  calling  attention  to  the 
dangers  from  forest  fires,  and  cause  them  to  be  posted  in  conspicuous  places, 
and  shall  furnish  same  to  the  railroad  companies,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
post  them  in  such  places  as  he  may  direct.” 

District  Rangers. — “As  soon  as  practicable  after  this  act  shall  take  effect, 
the  State  Forester  may,  with  the  approval  of  the  State  Forestry  Board,  create 
and  establish  patrol  districts,  including  all  lands  of  both  State  and  private 


22 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


ownership,  upon  which  there  is  a probability  of  forest  and  brush  fires  start- 
ing, and  establish  rangers  over  the  said  districts. 

“Under  the  direction  of  the  State  Forester,  the  district  rangers  are  charged 
with  preventing  and  extinguishing  forest  fires  in  their  respective  districts, 
and  the  performance  of  such  other  duties  as  may  be  required  by  the  State 
Forester. 

“They  may  arrest,  without  warrant,  any  person  found  violating  any  pro- 
visions of  this  chapter,  take  him  before  a magistrate  and  there  make  com- 
plaint. When  the  district  rangers  shall  have  information  that  such  violation 
has  been  committed,  they  shall  without  delay  make  similar  complaint,  and 
have  the  same  prosecuted.  The  district  rangers  shall  not  be  liable  for  civil 
action  for  trespass  committed  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties.” 

Fire  Patrolmen. — “At  any  time  district  rangers,  with  the  approval  of  the 
State  Forester,  may  employ  suitable  persons  to  be  known  as  fire  patrolmen 
permanently  to  remain  upon  and  patrol  such  territory,  State  or  private,  as 
may  he  assigned  to  them  as  long  as  may  be  required  to  prevent  and  extinguish 
any  fire.  Each  such  patrolman  so  employed  shall- be  supplied  with  the  neces- 
sary equipment.  The  State  Forester  and  the  district  ranger  may,  and  if  they 
are  absent  and  fires  are  actually  burning  in  the  forest,  the  fire  patrolmen  may 
summon  any  male  person  of  the  age  of  IS  years  and  upwards  to  assist  in 
stopping  the  fires,  and  may  incur  any  other  necessary  and  reasonable  expense 
for  the  same  purpose,  but  shall  promptly  report  the  same  to  the  district 
ranger. 

“Any  persons  summoned  by  any  official  of  the  State  who  is  physically  able 
and  refuses  to  assist  shall  be  guilty  of  a misdemeanor,  and  shall  be  punish- 
able by  a fine  of  not  less  than  $5  and  not  more  than  $25.” 

Payment  for  Fighting  Fire. — “The  wages  and  expenses  of  men  summoned 
or  employed  to  fight  forest  fires  actually  burning  shall  be  fixed  and  paid  for 
by  the  State  Forester  and  the  labor  reckoned  and  paid  for  by  the  hours  of 
labor  performed,  which  shall  not  exceed  the  rate  of  25  cents  per  hour  em- 
ployed : Provided,  no  pay  shall  be  given  for  fighting  fire  within  one  mile  of 
the  residence  of  such  person,  unless  employed  by  the  State  Forester  or  his 
assistants.” 

Road  Overseers  to  Extinguish  Fires. — “Every  road  overseer  or  assistant  of 
a road  overseer  or  other  local  officer  having  charge  of  the  highway,  who  finds 
that  any  person  has  left  a camp  fire  burning  in  his  district,  shall  extinguish 
the  same,  and  take  prompt  measures  to  prosecute  the  person  or  persons  who 
so  left  such  fire.” 

Negligently  Setting  Fives. — “Whoever  under  any  circumstances  sets  fire 
must  exercise  care  and  precaution  in  proportion  to  the  danger. 

“Whenever  a fire  set  by  any  person  or  corporation  spreads  to  and  destroys 
property  belonging  to  another,  it  shall  be  prima  facie  evidence  that  the  party 
so  setting  such  fire  is  guilty  of  negligence  in  setting  the  same  and  allowing  it 
to  spread.” 

County  Attorney  to  Prosecute. — “Whenever  an  arrest  shall  have  been  made 
for  violation  of  any  of- the  provisions  of  this  chapter,  or  whenever  information 
of  such  violation  shall  have  been  lodged  with  him,  the  county  attorney  of  the 
county  in  which  the  offense  was  committed  shall  prosecute  the  accused  with 
all  diligence  and  energy.” 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


23 


Auxiliary  Patrol  Force. — “Tlie  State  Forester  may  appoint  supervisors,  con- 
stables, and  clerks  of  towns,  mayors  of  cities,  and  presidents  of  village  coun- 
cils tire  wardens  for  their  respective  districts,  and  it  is  hereby  made  their  duty 
to  do  all  things  necessary  to  protect  the  property  of  such  municipalities  from 
fire  and  to  extinguish  the  same. 

“All  towns,  villages,  and  cities  are  hereby  authorized  and  directed  to  take 
necessary  precautions  to  prevent  the  starting  and  spreading  of  forest  or 
prairie  tires  and  to  extinguish  the  same,  and  are  hereby  further  authorized  to 
annually  levy  a tax  of  not  more  than  five  mills  upon  a taxable  property  of 
such  municipalities,  which,  when  collected,  shall  be  known  as  the  ‘Fire  Fund.’ 
which  shall  be  used  in  paying  all  necessary  and  incidental  expenses  incurred 
in  enforcing  the  provisions  of  this  act.” 

Appropriation. — “There  is  hereby  appropriated  from  the  general  - revenue 
funds  of  the  State  out  of  any  moneys  not  otherwise  appropriated,  the  sum  of 
$15,000  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  July  31,  1911,  $75,000  for  the  fiscal  year  end- 
ing July  31,  1912,  and  $75,000  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  July  31,  1913,  which 
shall  be  credited  to  the  Forest  Service,  to  be  used  therefor  as  provided  in 
this  act.” 

RAILROADS  ; REGULATIONS  AND  DUTIES. 

The  railroad  law  gives  large  powers  to  the  State  Forester,  hut  fixes 
responsibility  so  clearly  yet  impartially  that  it  has  the  effect  of  securing 
the  active  and  hearty  cooperation  of  the  railroads  in  fire  prevention. 
This  is  the  object  of  the  law  and  the  avowed  policy  of  the  State  Forester. 
Chapter  III  of  the  State  Forester’s  annual  report  for  the  year  1913  is 
perhaps  the  best  discussion  of  railroad  fire  prevention  ever  published  in 
this  country. 

Because  of  the  exceptional  efficiency  of  the  Minnesota  railroad  fire 
law,  it  is  here  given  in  full : 

STATE  FORESTER  TO  PROVIDE  MEASURES  FOR  IMMEDIATE  CONTROL  OF  FIRES. 

“When,  in  the  judgment  of  the  State  Forester,  there  is  danger  of  the  setting 
and  spreading  of  fires  from  locomotive  engines,  he  shall  order  any  railroad 
company  to'  provide  patrolmen  to  follow  each  train  throughout  such  fire  patrol 
district  or  districts  as  he  deems  necessary  to  prevent  tires.  When  the  State 
Forester  has  given  a railroad  company  notice  to  provide  such  patrol  after 
trains,  the  said  railroad  company  shall  immediately  comply  with  such  instruc- 
tions throughout  the  territory  designated ; and  upon  its  failure  so  to  do,  the 
State  Forester  may  employ  patrolmen  with  the  necessary  equipment  to  patrol 
the  rights  of  way  of  said  railroad,  and  the  expense  of  the  same  shall  be 
charged  to  the  said  railroad  company,  and  may  be  recovered  in  a civil  action 
in  the  name  of  the  State  of  Minnesota,  and  in  addition  thereto  the  said  com- 
pany shall  be  guilty  of  a misdemeanor. 

“The  State  Forester  may  prescribe  such  other  measures  which  are  consid- 
ered by  him  to  be  essential  for  the  immediate  control  of  fire. 

Duties  of  Railroads. — “It  is  also  made  the  duty  of  any  railroad  company, 
acting  independently  of  such  State  Forester,  to  patrol  its  right  of  way  after 


24 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


the  passage  of  each  train  when  necessary  to  prevent  the  spread  of  fires  and 
to  use  the  highest  degree  of  diligence  to  prevent  the  setting  and'  spread  of 
fires  to  cause  the  extinguishment  of  fires  set  by  locomotives  or  found  existing 
upon  their  respective  rights  of  way,  and  for  any  violation  hereof  such  rail- 
road company,  its  officers  and  patrolmen,  shall  be  guilty  of  a misdemeanor, 
and  be  punished  by  a fine  of  not  less  than  fifty  dollars  ($50)  nor  more  than 
one  hundred  dollars  ($100)  and  costs,  and  in  addition  thereto  such  railroad 
company  shall  be  liable  for  all  expenses  and  damage  caused  or  permitted  by 
it,  to  be  recovered  in  civil  action. 

Ash-pan  and  Spark  Arrester. — “Every  company  operating  a railroad  for 
any  purpose  shall  equip  and  use  upon  each  locomotive  engine  a practical  and 
efficient  ash-pan  and  spark-arresting  device,  which  the  master  mechanic  shall 
cause  to  be  examined,  and  the  same  shall  be  examined  by  the  master  me- 
chanic or  some  employee  each  time  before  leaving  the  roundhouse,  except 
when  snow  is  on  the  ground. 

Record  of  Examination  of  Locomotives.-r-“A  record  shall  be  kept  of  such 
examinations  in  a book  to  be  furnished  by  the  railroad  company  for  the  pur- 
pose, showing : 

“1.  The  place  and  number  of  each  engine  inspected. 

“2.  The  date  and  hour  of  day  of  such  inspection. 

“3.  The  condition  of  the  said  fire  protective  appliance  and  arrangements ; 
and 

“4.  A record  of  repairs  made  to  any  of  the  fire  protective  appliances.  The 
said  book  to  be  open  for  inspection  by  the  State  Forester  or  other  authorized 
officer  appointed  by  him. 

“The  master  mechanic  or  employee  making  such  examination  shall  be  held 
responsible  for  the  good  condition  of  the  same,  but  without  relieving  the  com- 
pany from  its  responsibility  hereunder. 

State  Inspection  Authorized. — “Any  locomotive  inspector  appointed  by  the 
State  Forester  is  authorized  to  inspect  any  locomotive,  donkey,  traction,  or 
portable  engine  and  all  other  engines  and  boilers  operated  in  the  vicinity  of 
forest,  brush,  or  grass  lands,  and  to  enter  upon  any  property  for  such  pur- 
pose or  where  he  may  deem  it  necessary  in  order  to  see  that  all  the  provisions 
of  this  act  are  duly  complied  with. 

Right  of  Way. — “Every  such  company  shall  keep  its  right  of  way  clear  of 
combustible  material,  logs,  poles,  lumber,  and  wood,  except  ties,  material  for 
shipment,  and  other  materials  necessary  for  the  maintenance  and  operation 
of  the  road,  from  March  15th  to  December  1st.  During  particularly  dry  and 
dangerous  periods  the  State  Forester  may  prohibit  any  and  all  burning  along 
part  or  all  of  railroad  right  of  way  for  a definite  period. 

Fire-breaks  Along  Right  of  Way. — “Every  railroad  company  shall  establish 
and  maintain  such  fire-breaks  along  the  route  of  its  railway  as  can  be  con- 
structed and  maintained  at  not  excessive  expense.  The  intention  shall  be  to 
adjust  the  protective  measures  to  the  local  conditions,  and  to  make  the  ex- 
pense proportionate  to  the  fire  risk  and  the  possible  damage. 

Other  Engines. — “Except  when  snow  is  on  the  ground,  no  donkey,  traction, 
or  portable  engine  or  other  engines  and  boilers  except  locomotives  shall  be 
operated  in  the  vicinity  of  forest,  brush,  or  grass  lands,  which  do  not  burn 
oil  as  fuel,  except  they  be  provided  with  a practical  and  efficient  ash-pan  and 
spark-arresting  device. 


FOREST  FIRES  IK  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


25 


Deposit  of  Live  Coals  and  Ashes. — “No  company  shall  permit  any  of  its  em- 
ployees to  leave  a deposit  of  fire,  live  coals,  or  ashes  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  woodland  or  lands  liable  to  be  overrun  by  fire,  and  every  engineer,  con- 
ductor, or  trainman  discovering  a fire  adjacent  to  the  track  shall  report  the 
same  promptly  to  the  agent  at  the  first  telegraph  or  telephone  station  reached 
by  him,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  as  representative  of  such  company  to  at  once 
take  necessary  steps  to  put  out  such  fire. 

Posting  Warning  Placards. — “Every  such  company  shall  give  its  employees 
particular  instructions  for  the  prevention  and  extinguishment  of  fires,  and 
shall  cause  warning  placards,  such  as  are  approved  by  the  State  Forester,  to 
be  conspicuously  posted  at  every  station  in  the  vicinity  of  forest,  brush,  and 
grass  lands ; and.  when  a fire  occurs  on  the  right  of  way  of  its  road,  shall  im- 
mediately concentrate  such  help  and  adopt  such  measures  as  shall  be  available 
for  its  extinguishment. 

“Every  railroad  company  shall  make  such  reports  to  the  State  Forester  as 
are  deemed  necessary  by  him  of  fires  occurring  on  or  adjacent  to  their 
respective  rights  of  way. 

Combustible  Material  Close  to  Railroad. — “Whenever  any  combustible  ma- 
terial shall  be  left  in  the  proximity  of  any  railroad,  either  without  proper 
fire  protection  or  so  as  to  constitute  a fire  menace  to  other  property,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  owner  of  such  material,  upon  being  notified  in  writing  by 
the  State  Forester  or  any  forest  ranger  as  to  the  nature  and  extent  of  the 
protection  required,  to  forthwith  comply  with  all  the  terms  of  such  notice  so 
as  to  properly  protect  or  remove  such  material. 

Penalty. — “Any  company  or  corporation  violating  any  provision  of  this  sec- 
tion shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a misdemeanor,  and  on  conviction  thereof  shall 
be  fined  not  less  than  fifty  dollars  ($50)  and  not  exceeding  one  hundred  dol- 
lars ($100)  and  costs  of  prosecution  for  each  offense,  and  any  railroad  em- 
ployee or  other  individual  violating  the  same  shall  be  guilty  of  a misdemeanor, 
and  shall  be  punished  by  a fine  of  not  less  than  twenty-five  dollars  ($25)  nor 
more  than  one  hundred  dollars  ($100)  and  costs  of  prosecution,  or  by  impris- 
onment in  the  county  jail  not  exceeding  ninety  (90)  days.” 

DISPOSAL  OF  SLASH. 

Powers  of  Forester  and  Rangers  as  to  Slashings. — “Where  and  whenever  in 
the  judgment  of  the  State  Forester  or  district  ranger  there  is  or  may  be  dan- 
ger of  starting  and  spreading  of  fires  from  slashings  and  debris  from  the 
cutting  of  timber  of  any  kind  and  for  any  purpose,  the  State  Forester  or  dis- 
trict ranger  shall  order  the  individual,  firm,  or  corporation  by  whom  the  said 
timber  has  been  or  is  being  cut  to  dispose  of  the  slashings  and  dSbris  as  he 
may  direct.  Where  conditions  do  not  permit  the  burning  of  the  slashings 
and  debris  over  the  entire  area  so  covered,  the  State  Forester  may  require 
the  person,  firm,  or  corporation  by  whom  the  timber  was  cut  to  dispose  of  such 
slashings  and  debris  in  such  a way  as  to  establish  a safe  fire  line  around  the 
area  requiring  such  protection,  the  said  fire  line  to  be  of  a width  and  of  a 
character  satisfactory  to  the  State  Forester. 

Expense  of  Burning  Slash  Can  Be  Collected  by  State  as  Mechanics  Lien. — 
“When  any  such  branches,  slashings,  or  debris  are  left  unattended  contrary 


26 


FOEEST  FIRES  IN  WORTH  CAROLINA. 


to  the  instructions  of  the  State  Forester  or  district  ranger,  the  State  Forester, 
the  district  ranger,  or  patrolman  may  go  upon  the  premises  with  such  force 
of  men  as  may  be  necessary,  and  burn  such  branches,  slashings,  and  debris, 
and  the  expense  thereof  shall  be  a lien  upon  the  land  on  which  they  are  situ- 
ated, and  also  upon  the  logs  and  other  timber  products  cut  upon  said  land, 
and  enforced  as  liens  are  enforced  for  the  improvement  of  real  estate  or  per- 
sonal property. 

Clearing  for  Right  of  Way  or  Roadbed. — “Any  person  or  corporation  who 
cuts  or  fells  trees  or  bushes  of  any  kind  in  clearing  land  for  roadbed  or  right 
of  way  for  any  railroad,  highway,  or  trail  shall  in  the  manner  and  at  the 
time  as  above  prescribed  burn  the  slashings  and  all  combustible  material  ex- 
cept fuel  and  merchantable  timber. 

Clearing  for  Agricultural  Purposes. — “Any  person  or  corporation  who  cuts 
or  fells  trees  or  bushes  of  any  kind  in  clearing  land  for  agricultural  or  pastur- 
age purposes,  or  who  in  any  way  clears  land,  is  prohibited  from  setting  fire 
to  the  slashings,  brush,  roots  or  excavated  stumps  or  other  combustible  mate- 
rial on  such  land  and  letting  the  fire  run ; the  material  must  be  disposed  of 
pursuant  to  the  regulations  of  the  State  Forester. 

Contractors  to  Pile  and  Burn  Slash. — “Any  contractor  who  enters  into  a 
contract  for  the  construction  of  a public  road,  and  which  contract  involves 
the  cutting  or  grubbing  of  woods,  standing  timber,  or  brush  from  any  part 
of  the  right  of  way  of  such  road,  shall  pile  all  the  slashings  and  debris  cut  or 
grubbed  from  the  roadbed  or  right  of  way  in  the  middle  of  such  right  of  way. 
and  shall  burn  and  dispose  of  such  slash  and  debris  without  damage  to  ad- 
joining timber  or  woods,  which  burning  shall  be  done  in  a manner  and  at  a 
time  satisfactory  to  the  State  Forester.” 

COMMENT. 

Only  one  season  has  passed  since  the  above  law  bas  gone  into  force, 
and  so  it  is  too  soon  to  compare  it  witb  tbe  deficiency  of  previous  years. 
Tbe  State  Forester,  however,  is  enthusiastic  about  the  improved  condi- 
tions and  administration  of  the  law.  Iu  summing  up  the  work  of  the 
State  Forest  Service  for  the  season,  he  says: 

“The  season  just  ended  has  undoubtedly  been  the  worst  fire  season  that 
has  been  experienced  4 since  the  present  Forest  Service  has  been  organized, 
although  there  were  less  fires  reported  this  year  than  in  the  previous  years. 

“Every  effort  was  made  during  the  year  to  prevent  fires.  The  field  force 
under  the  direction  of  the  district  rangers  was  about  the  same  as  in  previous 
years.  Approximately  sixty  patrolmen  were  employed  by  the  State  during 
the  spring  and  fall,  when  the  danger  of  fire  was  the  greatest.  This  number 
was  decreased  during  the  summer  months,  when  weather  conditions  were 
such  as  to  decrease  the  fire  danger.  The  Federal  Government  furnished  an 
average  of  eighteen  men  per  month.  The  various  railroads  maintained  dur- 
ing the  dangerous  seasons  a large  force  of  patrolmen,  who  were  engaged 
solely  in  the  work  of  fire  prevention.  Quite  a number  of  townships  again 
employed  patrolmen  in  their  respective  towns ; the  lumber  companies  had  on 
duty  during  the  entire  year  a large  number  of  men  who  took  every  precau- 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


27 

tion  in  guarding  against  fires.  Aside  from  the  above,  there  were  a number 
of  special  patrolmen  such  as  National  Forest  Service  officers  and  men  em- 
ployed by  the  Indian  Service. 

“The  railroads  have  shown  a marked  improvement  in  their  cooperation  for 
fire  prevention.  In  1912,  44  per  cent  of  the  fires  were  set  by  railroads,  while 
in  1913  only  20  per  cent  are  charged  to  railroads. 

“The  number  of  patrolmen,  the  length  and  location  of  their  beats,  were 
determined  by  the  ranger  of  each  district.  The  rangers  are  intimately  ac- 
quainted with  the  territory  which  they  control,  understanding  the  relative 
‘fire  danger’  of  the  different  localities.  In  deciding  upon  the  number  of  pa- 
trolmen needed,  several  things  are  considered : the  number  of  trains  per  day : 
condition  of  engines  in  regard  to  fire  protective  devices ; conditions  of  right 
of  way  and  of  adjacent  land,  whether  covered  with  timber  or  grass ; and 
proximity  to  towns,  sawmills,  or  stored  products  such  as  ties,  posts,  or  logs. 

“Slash  disposal  is  now  a regular  part  of  logging  in  Minnesota.  The  loggers 
in  the  last  year  spent  in  the  neighborhood  of  $300,000  in  burning  brush,  or 
approximately  10  cents  a thousand  on  the  cut  of  three  billion  feet  of  timber. 
The  slash  resulting  from  pine  cuttings  was  practically  all  burned  and  fire 
lines  of  different  kinds  were  burned  around  spruce  and  cedar  cuttings.  Only 
a very  limited  amount  of  lopping  was  done,  and  this  mostly  in  areas  of  hard- 
wood.” 

WISCONSIN. 

The  forest  fire  laws  of  Wisconsin  have  until  recently  been  well  ahead 
of  the  other  Lake  States ; in  fact,  three  or  four  years  ago  it  was  gener- 
ally supposed  that  they  were  about  the  best  State  laws  in  the  country. 
Their  administration  was  in  the  hands  of  the  State  Forester,  who  was 
responsible  to  a representative  forestry  commission.  One  or  more  fire 
wardens  were  appointed  by  the  forester  in  each  township  where  the  need 
for  them  existed,  and  these  were  paid  for  the  time  actually  employed  by 
them  in  preventing  and  suppressing  fires  at  a rate  not  to  exceed  25  cents 
per  hour.  All  bills  for  services  for  wardens  and  those  employed  by  them 
were  paid  by  the  township  in  which  the  work  was  done  up  to  an  amount 
not  to  exceed  $100  a year  in  such  township. 

Lake  States  Forestry  Conference. — After  the  two  most  disastrous  fires 
of  1908  and  1910,  not  only  in  Wisconsin,  but  also  in  Minnesota  and 
Michigan,  it  was  realized  by  these  States  that  their  present  laws  were 
inadequate  to  cope  with  the  forest  fire  situation.  In  December,  1910.  a 
conference  was  called  at  St.  Paul  at  which  representatives  of  the  three 
States  came  together  to  discuss  the  situation  and  the  working  out  of  a 
better  system  of  fire  prevention.  This  conference  was  an  unusually 
strong  and  representative  one,  headed  by  the  Governors  of  Minnesota 
and  Wisconsin,  members  of  the  legislative  committees  on  forestry  from 
the  Lake  States,  and  also  lumbermen,  foresters,  etc.  The  sense  of  the 


28 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


meeting  was  that  “the  old  system  of  doing  nothing  until  the  fire  occurred 
had  always  and  everywhere  proved  to  be  little  better  than  no  system  at 
all,  and  that  the  only  sensible,  practical  plan  was  to  concentrate  the 
efforts  of  each  State  to  building  up  the  best  possible  system  of  fire  pre- 
vention.” After  a two  days  meeting  they  passed  a series  of  strong  reso- 
lutions, among  which  are  the  following: 

Adequate  Patrol  System  Recommended. — “First.  That  the  forest  fire  pro- 
tection of  each  State  and  such  other  branches  of  State  work  as  may  be 
deemed,  best  to  combine  with  it  be  placed  under  the  control  of  a nonpartisan 
commission  empowered,  as  fully  as  possible  under  the  constitutions  of  the 
different  States,  to  carry  on  the  work,  and  under  civil  service  rules.  Such 
commission  should  represent  all  the  interests  involved  as  far  as  possible,  and 
we  recommend  that  such  commission  place  the  work  in  charge  of  a chief 
forester  who  should  be  a professional  graduate  forester,  and  that  the  com- 
mission employ  such  trained  foresters  and  other  assistants  as  may  be  neces- 
sary ; define  their  duties  and  fix  their  salaries ; said  employees  to  be  engaged 
under  such  civil  service  regulations  as  the  commission  may  prescribe. 

“Second.  Resolved , That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  conference  that  the  present 
forest  fire  warden  service  of  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and  Minnesota  is  totally 
inadequate  to  meet  the  existing  fire  hazard  to  both  life  and  property,  and 
that  forest  protection  service,  to  become  efficient,  must  be  greatly  extended. 
To  this  end  we  recommend  an  adequate  forest  patrol  system,  maintained  by 
the  State,  organized  and  operated  by  the  commission  referred  to.” 

Subsequent  to  this  meeting  Minnesota  greatly  strengthened  her  for- 
estry laws  (see  pages  19-27)  until  now  she  has  perhaps  the  most  efficient 
fire  preventive  system  in  the  country.  Wisconsin  was  not  so  fortunate, 
however. 

Fire  Protection  Made  a Local  Affair. — “A  bill  was  introduced  in  the  Wis- 
consin Legislature  of  1911  to  provide  for  a State  forest  fire  patrol,  but  the 
Legislature  refused  to  appropriate  State  funds  for  this  purpose,  and  the  leg- 
islative committee  changed  the  bill  so  that  all  lands  benefited  by  the  patrol 
would  pay  a special  tax  of  2%  cents  per  acre,  per  annum.  The  timberland 
owners  refused  to  agree  to  this  amendment,  with  the  result  that  the  bill  was 
killed.  Wishing  to  accomplish  something,  the  Legislature  passed  a law  pro- 
viding that  town  chairmen  should  act  as  town  fire  wardens,  and  the  road 
supervisors  should  he  deputy  town  fire  wardens.  The  idea  of  this  law  was 
to  place  the  responsibility  for  and  the  cost  of  fighting  fires  directly  upon  the 
local  community  where  they  occurred. 

Weakness  of  Neio  Law.- — “This  law  is  only  a makeshift,  and  is  especially 
weak  and  inefficient  for  the  following  reasons : 

“1.  Some  of  the  best  men  in  the  towns  are  elected  as  town  chairmen  and  road 
supervisors,  but  because  they  are  good  men  it  does  not  naturally  follow  that 
they  have  the  strength  and  endurance  or  the  knowledge  of  how  to  fight  forest 
fires.  The  impression  seems  to  prevail  that  any  one  can  fight  forest  fires. 
Almost  any  fairly  able-bodied  man  can  assist  very  materially,  but  the  men  in 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


29 


charge  of  the  work  must  know  the  country  thoroughly,  and,  more  important 
still,  must  know  just  where  and  how  to  attack  the  fires.  Experienced  woods- 
men should  be  in  charge  of  the  fire  warden  system  in  each  town,  and  not 
simply  some  good  man  who  happens  to  hold  an  office  and  upon  whom  it  is 
easy  to  assign  another  duty  by  law. 

“2.  The  towns  that  have  the  most  timber  are  always,  for  that  very  reason, 
either  without  any  settlers  at  all  or  else  both  settlers  and  roads  are  very  few. 
Such  towns,  as  a rule,  have  no  road  supervisors,  and  as  a result,  where  the 
fire  warden  system  should  be  the  strongest  it  is  in  fact  the  weakest,  and 
vice  versa. 

“3.  The  town  chairmen  and  road  supervisors  almost  never  take  any  action 
until  the  fire  actually  occurs.  In  other  words,  the  present  law  makes  the 
same  old  mistake  of  providing  for  fighting  fires,  but  not  preventing  them. 
Prevention  is  the  watchword  of  any  successful  fire  warden  system,  and  this 
has  been  proved  in  every  State  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  No  city  of 
any  size  would  think  of  being  without  a fire  department,  and  no  town  con- 
taining a large  area  of  timberlands  should  be  without  a strong  fire  warden 
system  which  would  devote  its  efforts  in  the  first  place  to  preventing  fires.” 

RAILWAYS. 

The  strongest  feature  of  the  present  law  and  the  one  which  will  best 
repay  careful  study  by  IMorth  Carolinians  is  that  which  provides  efficient 
State  inspection  for  spark  arresters  and  for  fire  preventive  devices  on 
railway  locomotives,  donkey,  traction,  and  portable  engines.  The  follow- 
ing synopsis  of  the  wrork  of  this  law  given  by  the  State  Forester  in  his 
report  for  1911-’12  is  quoted  almost  in  full  because  of  the  importance  of 
this  subject.  Railroad  inspection  in  some  parts  of  Canada  may  be  some- 
what more  complete  and  effective,  but  Wisconsin  has  certainly  one  of 
the  strongest  and  most  workable  laws  in  the  United  States : 

Spark  Arresters. — “Between  March  1st  and  December  1st  all  logging  loco- 
motives, donkey,  traction,  or  portable  engines  which  are  operated  in.  through, 
or  near  forest,  brush,  or  grass  land,  and  which  do  not  burn  oil  as  fuel,  must 
be  equipped  with  screens  or  wire  netting  on  top  of  the  smokestack,  and  so  con- 
structed as  to  give  the  most  practicable  protection  against  the  escape  of  sparks 
and  cinders.  ‘The  term  logging  locomotive  as  used  in  this  act  shall  be  con- 
strued to  mean  any  locomotive  operated  on  a railroad,  branch  line  or  division, 
the  chief  or  main  business  of  which  is  the  transportation  of  logs,  lumber,  or 
other  forest  products.’  The  great  value  of  this  provision  of  the  law  will  be 
at  once  apparent  to  any  forester,  as  it  compels  every  locomotive  which  is 
operated  through  the  forests  to  be  equipped  with  the  oldest,  simplest,  and  yet 
by  far  the  most  effective  device  for  preventing  the  escape  of  sparks  or  cinders, 
namely,  a screen  or  hood  over  the  smokestack.  Locomotives  that  are  operated 
on  main  through  lines  and  that  make  long  runs  could  not  be  equipped  in  this 
way.  for  with  the  smokestack  covered  with  a hood  the  front  end  of  the  engine 
would  clog  up  with  cinders,  and  then  of  course  the  engine  could  not  steam  or 
pull  its  load.  Therefore  the  law  provides  that  ‘all  locomotives  operated  on 


30 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


any  railroad  other  than  a logging  railroad  shall  be  equipped  with  the  most 
practicable  spark  arresters  so  constructed  as  to  give  the  greatest  possible 
protection  against  the  escape  of  sparks  and  cinders  from  the  smokestacks 
thereof,  and  each  such  engine  shall  be  provided  with  the  most  practicable  device 
to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  coals  from  ash-pans  and  fire  boxes,  and  such 
devices  between  March  1st  and  December  1st  shall  at  all  times  be  maintained 
in  good  repair.’ 

Railroad  Locomotive  Inspectors. — “The  law  provides  that  the  superintend- 
ent of  motive  power  or  equivalent  officer  on  each  railroad  shall  designate  an 
employee  of  such  railroad  at  each  division  point  and  roundhouse,  who  shall 
examine  each  locomotive  each  time  it  leaves  the  division  point  or  roundhouse 
between  March  1st  and  December  1st,  and  such  employee  shall  be  held 
responsible  for  the  proper  carrying  out  of  the  provisions  of  this  section,  but 
without  relieving  the  company  from  its  responsibility  hereunder.  This  pro- 
vision of  the  law  has  proved  very  effective  in  keeping  the  locomotives  in 
proper  condition,  and  also  in  bringing  about  real  cooperation  between  the 
State  and  the  railroads. 

State  Locomotive  Inspectors. — “It  will  be  noted  that  the  law  provides  that 
screens  or  hoods  on  the  smokestacks  must  give  the  'most  practicable  protec- 
tion’ and  that  spark  arresters  must  be  constructed  so  as  to  give  the  ‘greatest 
possible  protection.’  The  question  naturally  arises  as  to  who  shall  decide  as 
to  the  most  practicable  device. 

“The  law  provides  that  any  locomotive  inspector  designated  by  the  State 
Board  of  Forestry  may  reject  immediately  from  service  any  locomotive,  etc.. 
and  in  case  of  disagreement  appeal  may  be  made  to  the  State  Railroad  Com- 
mission. 

“Particular  attention  is  called  to  the  fact  that  any  defective  engine  can  be 
ordered  out  of  service  and  that  it  cannot  be  returned  to  service  until  the 
defects  have  been  fully  remedied.  This  provision  of  the  law  is  extremely 
important  and  is  far  more  effective  than  the  usual  fines,  for  any  railroad 
company  that  was  inclined  to  disregard  the  law  would  be  quickly  brought  to 
its  senses  by  having  its  locomotives  ordered  out  of  service. 

Other  Provisions. — “Minor  though  important  provisions  of  the  law  are : 

“a.  Railroads  must  provide  patrols  for  duty  along  their  tracks  in  danger- 
ously dry  weather,  and  if  any  railroad  company  fails  to  provide  such  patrols 
after  due  notice,  the  State  Board  of  Forestry  may  employ  patrols  and  the 
cost  shall  be  charged  to  the  railroad  company. 

“b.  Every  railroad  must  at  least  once  every  year  cut  and  burn,  or  remove 
from  its  right  of  way,  all  grass,  weeds,  brush,  logs,  and  refuse  material. 

“c.  No  railroad  company  shall  permit  its  employees  to  deposit  fire,  live 
coals  or  ashes  upon  their  tracks  outside  of  the  yard  limits,  except  they  be 
immediately  extinguished. 

“d.  Engineers,  conductors,  or  trainmen  who  discover  fires  along  the  right 
of  way,  or  on  lands  adjacent  to  the  railroad,  shall  report  the  same  to  the 
agent  at  the  nearest  telegraph  station. 


COMMENT. 

“The  railroads  of  Wisconsin  have  come  to  realize  within  the  last  few  years 
that  they  are  more  directly  interested  in  preventing  forest  fires  than  any 


FOREST  FIRES  IN’  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


31 


other  great  industry  in  the  State,  and  as  a result  of  tins  realization  they  are 
anxious  to  do  their  full  share  in  putting  a stop  to  forest  fires  that  are  caused 
by  the  railroads. 

“The  State  Board  of  Forestry  has  a locomotive  inspector  who  devotes  his 
entire  time  from  March  1st  to  December  1st  to  inspecting  locomotives  in  the 
forest  regions  of  the  State,  and  he  is  constantly  working  with  the  railroad 
officials  to  perfect  improved  devices.” 

MICHIGAN. 

The  third  of  the  Lake  States,  which  has  perhaps  been  more  seriously 
denuded  of  timber  and  laid  waste  by  forest  fires  than  either  Minnesota 
or  Wisconsin,  has  at  the  present  time  the  least  effective  fire  protective 
system  of  the  three.  The  weakness  of  its  organization  consists  in  part 
in  its  being  combined  with  the  game  and  fish  warden  system  of  the  State. 

Fire  Wardens. — The  State  Game,  Fish,  and  Forestry  Warden,  who  is 
responsible  to  the  Public  Domain  Commission,  has  charge  of  the  preven- 
tion and  suppression  of  forest  fires.  Supervisors  are  constituted  fire 
wardens  of  their  respective  townships.  In  those  townships  in  which  the 
supervisor  does  not  reside  the  State  Warden  appoints  a fire  warden. 
The  forested  part  of  the  State  over  which  this  law  is  operative  is  divided 
into  ten  districts,  each  in  charge  of  a deputy  game,  fish,  and  forestry 
warden,  who  is  directly  responsible  to  the  State  Warden.  These  deputy 
wardens  receive  a salary  from  the  State  of  not  to  exceed  $1,000  and 
their  necessary  expenses.  In  addition  to  this  force,  temporary  fire  ward- 
ens are  appointed  by  the  State  Fire  Warden  in  any  locality  which  he 
thinks  is  inadequately  protected.  The  State  Warden  is  empowered  to 
use  such  means  under  his  command  as  he  may  deem  necessary  to  pre- 
vent and  suppress  fires  during  dry  and  dangerous  seasons,  the  expenses 
of  which,  to  be  paid  by  the  State,  must  not  exceed  $10,000. 

Fire  wardens  may  summon  all  necessary  assistance,  and  persons  re- 
fusing to  attend  are  liable  to  a fine  or  imprisonment.  All  fire  wardens 
and  employees  engaged  to  fight  fire  are  to  receive  for  their  services  $2 
per  day  for  the  time  actually  employed,  two-thirds  to  be  paid  by  the 
township  and  one-third  by  the  State,  with  the  proviso  that  no  fire  warden 
is  to  be  paid  for  more  than  a total  of  fifteen  days  service  in  one  year. 
The  approximate  cost  of  fire  prevention  during  1913  was  $18,600,  $10,- 
000  of  which  was  specially  appropriated  by  the  State  Legislature  for  this 
purpose  and  the  remainder  was  part  of  the  receipts  from  hunting  and 
fishing  licenses. 

Railroads. — All  railroads  operating  within  the  State  are  required  to 
use  efficient  spark  arresters,  and  to  keep  their  rights  of  way  clear  of 
combustible  material.  Employees  are  forbidden  to  deposit  live  coals 


32 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


within  the  vicinity  of  woodlands  and  trainmen  are  required  to  report 
fires  at  the  nearest  telegraph  station.  Railroad  companies  are  also  re- 
quired to  give  particular  instructions  to  their  employees  for  the  preven- 
tion and  prompt  extinguishment  of  fires,  and  to  post  warning  placards 
furnished  by  the  forest  commissioner. 

Efficient  spark  arresters  must  also  be  maintained  upon  all  threshing 
or  other  portable  steam  engines. 

Inspection. — Perhaps  the  two  most  effective  features  of  the  present 
administration  of  the  fire  laws  are  the  careful  and  efficient  inspection  of 
railway  locomotives  and  rights  of  way,  and  the  inauguration  and 
growth  of  the  Boy  Forest  Scout  movement.  In  the  report  of  the  State 
Game,  Fish,  and  Forestry  Warden  for  1912  seventy  pages  are  devoted 
to  the  subject  of  railway  fires  and  the  efforts  being  made,  not  only  hv 
the  State  hut  also  by  the  railroads  themselves,  for  their  prevention  and 
final  elimination.  It  would  seem  from  this  report  that  the  strongest  and 
closest  cooperation  exists  between  the  railroads  and  the  Forestry  Depart- 
ment, and  that  very  gratifying  results  are  being  obtained. 

Forest  Scouts. — The  Michigan  Forest  Scouts  movement  deserves  spe- 
cial mention.  In  adapting  the  Boy  Scout  idea  to  the  forest  protective 
needs  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  Mr.  William  R.  Oats,  State  Game, 
Fish,  and  Forestry  Warden,  has  not  only  secured  an  invaluable  auxiliary 
fire-fighting  force  for  this  State,  but  has  started  a movement  which  may 
spread  with  advantage  over  the  larger  part  of  the  United  States.  Already 
ISTew  Jersey,  Massachusetts,  and  Washington  have  taken  it  up,  and  the 
forestry  officials  of  West  Virginia  are  seriously  considering  the  advisa- 
bility of  organizing  such  a force.  There  seems  no  reason  why  Worth 
Carolina  could  not  take  advantage  of  the  enthusiasm  and  intelligence  of 
her  school  boys  and  girls  in  the  same  way,  as  soon  as  there  is  some  defi- 
nite State  organization  under  the  supervision  of  which  they  may  be 
enlisted. 

“The  Michigan  Forest  Scouts  are  school  boys  and  girls  between  the  ages  of 
7 and  19  years  who  have  willingly  enlisted  as  protectors  of  forests  and  prop- 
erty and  become  close  students  and  exponents  of  reforestation.  The  move- 
ment has  proven  so  popular  that  school  boys  and  girls  in  all  parts  of  the  State 
have  joined  its  ranks  until  now  there  are  3.000  members. 

“Not  only  has  the  organization  proved  a great  aid  in  the  protection  of 
forests  and  property,  but  it  has  resulted  in  a good  moral  effect  on  the  mem- 
bers, bettering  their  health  by  giving  them  training  out-of-doors,  developing 
chivalry  and  increasing  their  appreciation  of  citizenship.  In  a general  way 
knowledge  of  the  importance  of  prevention  of  forest  fires  is  assimilated  not 
only  by  the  boys  and  girls  of  the  State,  but  through  them  their  parents  have 
a greater  appreciation  of  the  value  of  forest  protection. 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


33 


“A  boy  or  girl  to  join  the  organization  must  pass  a creditable  examination 
on  simple  fire  fighting  and  ‘first  aid’  methods.  A few  of  the  things  that  can- 
didates must  know  are  how  properly  to  use  a knife,  hatchet,  ax,  shovel,  mat- 
tock ; flails  of  brush,  sacks  or  blankets ; how  to  determine  direction  by  a 
watch ; height  of  a tree,  and  how  to  tie  a death-grip,  square,  fisherman’s 
halter,  and  lumber  jacks’  single  and  double  timber  hitch. 

“Candidates  must  also  be  able  to  swim  20  yards,  walk  one  mile  in  12  min- 
utes, row  an  ordinary  boat,  or  paddle  a canoe  one  mile  in  acceptable  time, 
according  to  conditions.  They  must  know  the  general  State  open  season  for 
the  hunting  of  game  or  taking  of  fish,  and  their  own  county  game  law  excep- 
tions, if  there  are  any. 

“Candidates  must  also  be  able  to  distinguish  and  name  three  indigenous 
forest  trees,  three  indigenous  water  plants,  three  indigenous  ground  plants, 
three  domestic  game  birds,  three  migratory  game  birds  that  pass  over  Michi- 
gan; three  game  fishes  and  six  fur-bearing  animals.  Other  minor  things 
about  forestry,  game,  or  fish  conditions  must  also  be  answered  satisfactorily 
by  the  lad  who  desires  to  join  the  movement. 

“The  general  control  of  the  Michigan  Forest  Scouts  rests  with  the  board 
of  control,  the  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  and  Secretary  of  the 
Public  Domain  Commission  being  at  the  head  of  the  department  of  which 
they  are  auxiliaries.  The  field  control  rests  with  the  field  supervisor  and 
immediate  control  of  the  scouts  is  with  the  State  deputy  fire  or  forestry 
warden  of  the  accompanying  district. 

“In  1912  the  scouts  extinguished  509  fires  in  Michigan,  besides  reporting 
large  fires  to  State  Warden.”* 

“As  a result  of  tlie  educational  campaign  by  tbe  scouts,”  so  tlie  For- 
estry Warden  reports,  “it  is  doubtful  if  there  is  today  any  English- 
speaking  adult  in  tbe  forestry  district  who  does  not  appreciate  the  disas- 
trous effects  of  fires,  or  has  not  some  knowledge  of  fighting  them  and  of 
precautionary  measures.” 

Summary.— Mr.  Gifford  Pinchot  in  a letter  to  the  State  Game,  Eish, 
and  Forestry  Warden  indorsing  the  forest  scout  movement,  sums  up  the 
situation  in  Michigan  in  the  following  words : 

“You  must  realize  that  the  enlistment  of  boys  of  the  State  in  this  work 
cannot  solve  the  fire  problem.  Michigan,  I am  sorry  to  say,  is  far  behind 
most  of  the  States  in  handling  this  question.  The  enlistment  of  the  Michigan 
Forest  Scouts  must  not  be  allowed  to  stand  in  the  way  of  an  effective  body 
of  fire  fighters  employed  by  the  State. 

“By  far  the  best  work  in  fire  fighting  now  done  in  the  United  States  is  that 
of  the  National  Forest  Service.  I recommend  strongly  the  organization  of 
work  along  the  same  lines  for  the  State  of  Michigan.  Such  a service  should 
stand  on  its  own  feet,  and  should  not  be  merged  in  any  organization  with 
work  other  than  that  of  forestry  to  look  after.  The  forest  question  is  far 
too  important  not  to  have  an  organization  of  its  own.” 

*lliehigan  Forest  Scouts,  in  American  Lumberman,  Jan.  31,  1914. 


3 


34 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


NORTHWESTERN  STATES. 

Of  the  five  Northwestern  States  Wyoming  is  the  only  one  which  has 
not  an  effective  State  fire  protective  system.  Out  of  the  10,000,000  acres 
of  forest  land  contained  in  this  State  less  than  1,000,000  acres  is  in  the 
hands  of  the  State  or  of  private  owners.  All  the  rest  is  adequately  pro- 
tected by  the  Federal  Government,  either  as  National  forests  or  part  of 
the  Yellowstone  National  Park. 

Cooperative  fire  protection  has  reached  its  highest  efficiency  in  these 
States  where  the  Federal  Government,  the  State,  the  counties,  and  asso- 
ciations of  private  owners  all  cooperate  to  prevent  forest  fires.  (For  a 
discussion  of  cooperative  fire  protection,  see  Economic  Paper  No.  33, 
Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  During  1912  and  National  and  Associa- 
tion Cooperative  Fire  Control.) 

OREGON. 

Perhaps  the  most  effective  fire  protection  in  the  United  States  is  now 
practiced  in  Oregon.  This  is  not  only  because  there  is  a well  organized 
State  system,  provided  with  an  adequate  appropriation,  but  because  the 
law  provides  for  and  requires  definite  patrol  on  the  part  of  woodland 
owners. 

“Approximately  28,000,000  acres  or  46  per  cent  of  the  area  of  the 
State  is  timberland  or  land  upon  which  there  is  sufficient  brush  to  make 
protection  from  fire  necessary.  About  16,000,000  acres  are  inside  the 
boundaries  of  the  National  Forests  and  are  patrolled  by  the  United 
States  Forest  Service;  while  the  remaining  12,000,000  acres  are  patrolled 
on  a cooperative  basis  by  the  State  and  the  private  timberland  owners.” 

State  Board  of  Forestry. — In  the  act  of  1911  a State  Board  of  For- 
estry of  seven  members  is  provided  for.  The  personnel  shall  consist  of 
the  Governor,  the  acting  head  of  the  Forest  School  of  the  Oregon  Agri- 
cultural College,  and  five  electors  of  the  State  of  Oregon  to  he  appointed 
by  the  Governor  from  and  upon  the  authoritative  recommendation  of 
Oregon  State  Grange,  the  Oregon  Forest  Fire  Association,  the  Oregon 
and  Washington  Lumber  Manufacturers’  Association,  the  United  States 
Forest  Service,  and  the  Oregon  Wool  Growers’  Association,  each  to 
select  and  name  one  of  such  electors.  The  members  of  the  hoard  shall 
receive  no  compensation,  but  shall  he  entitled  to  actual  traveling  ex- 
penses incurred  in  attending  meetings. 

State  Forester. — The  Board  of  Forestry  must  appoint  the  State  For- 
ester at  a salary  of  not  to  exceed  $3,000  and  a Deputy  State  Forester  at 
a salary  of  $1,800.  Both  officials  are  allowed  necessary  office  and  con- 
tingent expenses,  and  traveling  and  field  expenses.  Among  other  duties, 


FOKEST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


35 


the  State  Forester  must  appoint  and  instruct  fire  wardens;  take  action 
to  prevent  and  extinguish  forest,  brush,  and  grass  fires;  enforce  the 
forest  laws,  and  cooperate  with  landowners,  counties,  or  others  in  forest 
protection. 

Appropriation. — The  sum  of  $60,000  per  annum  is  appropriated  for 
carrying  out  the  provisions  of 'the  fire  protection  law.  In  addition, 
county  commissioners  may  appropriate  money  from  the  county  funds 
for  forest  protection  in  their  counties. 

Fire  Wardens. — Several  different  classes  of  wardens  are  provided  for. 
The  State  may  appoint  proper  citizens  fire  wardens,  who  shall  serve 
voluntarily  or  under  compensation  by  property  owners  or  counties. 

State  and  county  officials  whose  duties  make  their  ex  officio  services 
as  fire  wardens  especially  desirable  shall  accept  appointments  as  such 
when  requested  by  the  State  Board  of  Forestry. 

Upon  the  recommendation  of  Federal  forest  supervisors,  the  State 
Forester  shall  appoint  resident  officers  of  fhe  National  forests  ex  officio 
fire  wardens. 

In  times  or  localities  of  particular  fire  danger  the  State  Forester  may 
appoint  and  employ  either  independently  or  jointly  with  other  agencies 
additional  fire  wardens.  These  last  shall  he  paid  from  the  State  fire 
•fund : Provided,  each  county  in  which  such  services  are  given  shall  be 
responsible  for  one-third  the  expense  thus  incurred. 

A law  passed  in  1913  provides  that  all  county  judges  shall  he  ex  officio 
fire  wardens,  having  all  the  powers  of  county  fire  wardens,  with  the  spe- 
cial duty  of  issuing  permits  for  burning. 

In  1913  the  following  numbers  of  fire  wardens  of  the  different  classes 
were  employed  in  the  State : Employed  by  individual  timber  owners 

120,  employed  by  associations  111,  employed  by  counties  1,  employed 
under  the  Weeks  law  58,  employed  by  United  States  Forest  Service  122, 
serving  without  compensation  315,  employed  by  State  32,  making  a total 
of  759. 

The  following  sums  were  paid  by  the  State,  private,  and  county  agen- 
cies in  1913  for  patrol,  improvement  work,  and  supervision : Individual 
patrol  $22,200,  association  patrol  $17,400,  county  agencies  $1,400,  State 
agencies  $16,500,  Federal  expenditures  under  Weeks  law  $8,700,  making 
a total  of  $96,200. 

Timberland  Oiuners  Must  Provide  Fire  Patrol. — Under  a recent  law 
owners  of  timberland  must  furnish  or  provide  a sufficient  fire  patrol 
during  the  season  of  the  year  when  there  is  danger  of  forest  fires.  This 
patrol  must  meet  with  the  approval  of  the  State  Forester.  If  the  owner 
fails  to  provide  such  patrol  the  State  Forester  may  patrol  the  land  and 


36 


FOREST  FIRES  IX  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


levy  the  costs  against  the  land  not  to  exceed  5 cents  per  acre  per  year. 
The  law  recognizes  the  residence  of  the  owner  within  one  and  one-half 
miles  of  the  timberland  as  effective  patrol. 

This  law,  the  State  Forester  says,  has  already  proven  a powerful  help 
in  advancing  systematic  forest  fire  protection.  It  was  the  chief  factor 
in  more  than  doubling  the  membership  of  the  patrol  associations  and 
through  its  influence  six  new  associations  were  formed  in  the  spring  of 
1913. 

Burning  of  Slashings. — Lumbermen  are  required  to  burn  their  slash- 
ings each  year  in  such  a way  as  to  confine  the  fire  to  their  own  lands. 
Builders  of  trails,  roads,  or  railroads  must  destroy  or  remove  all  in- 
flammable material  resulting  from  the  constructing  or  clearing  for  such 
improvements. 

Permits  are  required  for  the  burning  of  such  slashings,  choppings, 
woodlands,  or  brush  lands  between  June  1st  and  October  1st  each  year. 

Spark  Arresters. — All  engines  using  fuel  other  than  oil  in  or  near 
forest  or  brush  land  must  be  provided  with  adequate  spark  arresters, 
kept  in  constant  use  and  repair  from  June  1st  to  October  1st  of  each 
year.  The  escape  of  fire  from  any  engine  shall  be  prima  facie  evidence 
that  such  appliances  have  not  been  adequately  maintained. 

Railroads. — All  rights  of  way  of  railroads  must  be  mowed  each  year 
between  June  1st  and  July  1st.  If  any  railroad  neglects  or  refuses  to 
mow  their  right  of  way,  the  adjoining  landowner  may  mow  it  and  col- 
lect the  costs  from  the  county  authorities. 

Closed  Season. — In  addition  to  the  requirement  of  permits  for  burn- 
ing between  June  1st  and  October  1st,  which  is  designated  the  “closed 
season,”  the  Governor  may  with  the  advice  of  the  State  Forester  suspend 
all  permits  in  times  and  localities  of  unusual  fire  danger.  In  addition, 
during  the  open  season  for  hunting  game  he  may  by  proclamation  sus- 
pend the  open  season  and  make  it  a closed  season  for  the  shooting  of  wild 
birds  or  animals  of  any  kind  in  order  to  prevent  the  use  of  firearms  or 
fire  by  hunters. 

WASHINGTON. 

The  State  of  Washington  has  22,000,000  acres  of  timberland  that 
requires  protection.  Of  this  area,  11,6S4,6S0  acres  are  within  exterior 
boundaries  of  the  National  forests. 

The  State  forestry  organization  and  the  State  laws  are  quite  similar 
to  those  of  Oregon,  its  neighbor  to  the  south.  It  has  a State  Board  of 
Forest  Commissioners  with  a State  Forester,  and  a fire  warden  who  has 
charge  of  the  fire  protective  system. 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


37 


“The  law  relating  to  forest  fires  passed  in  1911  provides  that  where  wood- 
waste  material  is  destroj’ed  in  incinerators,  they  shall  he  equipped  with 
effective  spark  arresters,  and  the  same  applies  to  smokestacks,  chimneys,  or 
any  other  outlet  for  sparks.  Where  forest  products  are  being  manufactured 
within  one-quarter  of  a mile  of  forest  material,  the  destruction  of  slabs  and 
refuse  must  be  provided  for  in  a manner  which  will  not  endanger  surrounding 
property.  Locomotives,  donkey  engines,  etc.,  must  be  provided  not  only  with 
an  effective  spark  arrester,  but  with  devices  which  will  successfully  prevent 
the  escape  of  live  coals  from  fire  boxes  and  ash-pans.  The  felling  of  trees 
so  that  tops  lie  in  adjoining  timber  is  prohibited,  unless  the  permission  of  the 
owner  of  such  timber  is  procured.  Whenever  rights  of  way  are  cleared,  the 
slashings  must  be  piled  and  the  burning  done  at  such  time  as  the  fire  warden 
considers  safe.  Watchmen  must  be  kept  at  donkey  engines  for  two  hours 
after  operation  ceases,  and  all  snags  over  25  feet  in  height  within  50  feet  of 
each  donkey  engine  must  be  felled.”* 

Permits  are  required  for  the  burning  of  slashings  both  for  clearing 
land  and  as  fire  preventive  measures.  The  holders  of  permits  generally 
exercise  gTeat  care  to  prevent  fires  from  spreading  beyond  the  limit  of 
the  slashings,  and  little  loss  is  done  by  such  burnings,  so  it  is  said. 

There  are  three  agencies  for  fire  protection  actively  at  work  in  the 
State:  the  United  States  Forest  Service,  the  Washington  Forest  Fire 
Association,  and  the  State  organization.  These  three  cooperate  to  the 
fullest  extent  in  preventing  and  extinguishing  fires. 

Federal  Protection.- — “About  one-half  of  the  timbered  area  of  Washington 
is  protected  by  the  Forest  Service.  In  this  work  about  210  men  are  employed, 
and  as  an  adjunct  to  protection  758  miles  of  telephone  line  and  1.270  miles 
of  trails  have  been  constructed  and  are  maintained  by  the  Forest  Service. 
The  cost  of  protection  within  the  boundaries  of  the  National  forests,  in  the 
ordinary  year,  is  about  $SO,000. 

State  Protection. — “The  State  has  an  appropriation  of  $37,500  yearly  with 
which  to  maintain  the  office  of  State  Forester  and  put  wardens  in  the  field. 
In  addition  to  this  fund,  the  State  received  the  past  year  $10,000  from  the 
Federal  Government  as  its  share  of  the  Weeks  law  fund.  The  State  has  in 
the  field  one,  and  in  some  cases  two,  fire  wardens  in  each  county.  These  ward- 
ens receive  $1  per  day  and  necessary  subsistence  expenses  when  away  from 
headquarters.  Their  duties  are  to  enforce  the  law  and,  by  doing  so,  prevent 
destruction  by  fire. 

Washington  Forest  Fire  Association. — “The  Washington  Forest  Fire  Asso- 
ciation has  a membership  representing  approximately  two  and  three-quarter 
million  acres.  This  association  patrols  all  of  the  territory  west  of  the  Cas- 
cade Mountains  outside  of  the  National  forest,  or  about  S.000,000.  Its  patrol 
and  fire-fighting  force  consists  of  a chief  fire  warden,  12  inspectors,  and  from 
75  to  100  patrolmen.  For  purposes  of  protection  the  State  is  districted,  first 
into  inspector  districts  and  then  into  patrol  districts.  Each  patrol  district  is 
in  charge  of  a ranger,  who,  in  addition  to  being  responsible  for  the  suppres- 


*Forestry  Quarterly,  Vol.  IX,  p.  516. 


38 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


sion  of  any  fires  that  may  start,  is  charged  with  the  duty  of  law  enforcement, 
issuing  burning  permits  and  seeing  that  the  law  requiring  the  burning  of 
dangerous  slashings  is  enforced. 

“An  inspection  district  is  made  up  of  several  ranger  districts  and,  as  the 
name  implies,  is  in  charge  of  an  inspector.  These  men  are  responsible  for  the 
work  of  the  rangers  in  their  districts  and  are  selected  for  their  wide  knowledge 
and  experience  in  fire  suppression.  All  rangers  and  inspectors  are  responsible 
to  the  chief  fire  warden,  who  in  turn  is  responsible  to  the  trustees  of  the 
association.  Inspectors  receive  from  $90  to  $125  per  month  and  expenses 
and  are  employed  for  about  five  months  of  each  year.  Rangers  receive  from 
$75  to  $100,  no  expenses  being  allowed. 

Cooperation. — “To  insure  the  greatest  success,  thorough  cooperation  be- 
tween the  three  agencies  engaged  in  fire  prevention  is  necessary.  Such  coop- 
eration exists.  The  Forest  Service,  the  State  and  the  Association  cooperate 
under  an  informal  agreement  in  looking  after  the  areas  along  the  National 
forest  boundaries. 

Needed  Changes. — “The  Washington  law  is  good  in  most  respects,  and  pro- 
tection work  in  the  State  is  of  a high  character.  However,  there  is  need  of 
radical  reform  along  lines  which  will  free  the  State  Board  of  Forestry,  the 
State  Forester,  and  the  warden  force  from  political  influence.  At  the  present 
time  a portion  of  the  State  funds  are  held  in  readiness  to  meet  emergency 
fire-fighting  expenses.  The  result  is  that  during  the  ordinary  year  a balance 
accumulates  which  is  turned  back  to  the  State  Treasury  because  of  nonuse. 
Obviously  the  State  appropriation  being  far  too  small,  the  maximum  of  benefit 
would  he  derived  if  all  of  the  funds  were  expended  in  putting  on  a larger 
patrol  force,  leaving  to  some  other  agency  the  raising  of  funds  with  which  to 
fight  fire. 

“It  seems  logical  that  besides  its  appropriation,  for  fire  protection  in  gen- 
eral, which  is  no  more  than  is  done  by  Oregon  and  other  States  without  large 
grant  areas  of  their  own,  Washington  should  also  contribute  additionally  on 
an  acreage  basis  for  the  specific  care  of  its  timber  holdings,  as  does  Idaho 
under  the  Fallon  law.”* 

IDAHO. 

Idaho  contains  approximately  20,000,000  acres  of  forest  land,  nearly 
half  of  which  is  owned  and  protected  by  the  Federal  Government  as 
National  forests.  With  the  exception  of  about  250,000  acres  owned  by 
the  State,  the  remainder  is  nearly  all  in  the  hands  of  lumber  companies 
or  other  large  owners. 

The  fire  protective  law,  which  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  best  in  the 
country,  is  based  on  a system  of  cooperation  between  the  landowners  and 
the  State. 

Administration. — The  fire  law  is  administered  by  the  State  Board  of 
Land  Commissioners.  They  are  required  to  divide  up  the  State  into 
districts,  having  due  regard  to  the  area  of  forests  or  timberlands  therein. 


*Report  of  Forestry  Committee,  Fifth  National  Conservation  Congress,  p.  SOS. 


FOREST  FIEES  IFT  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


39 


Upon  application  of  the  owners  of  the  land,  they  are  to  appoint  one  fire 
warden  to  each  district,  who  is  to  be  paid  by  the  property  owners. 

Fire  Wardens. — The  district  warden  is  to  appoint  such  fire  wardens 
in  his  district  as  may  he  designated  by  the  property  owners.  They  like- 
wise are  to  he  paid  by  the  property  owners.  They  shall  exercise  all  the 
powers  and  duties  of  State  officers  in  enforcing  the  provisions  of  the  fire 
law.  They  are  to  patrol,  extinguish  fires,  and  investigate  fires,  post 
notices,  and  compel  assistance  which  will  he  paid  for  at  a rate  of  not 
more  than  $2.50  per  day. 

Under  this  law  the  State,  as  a landowner,  cooperates  with  and  con- 
tributes to  four  timber  protective  associations,  composed  of  timberland 
owners  throughout  the  State.  For  the  purpose  of  administering  the  law 
and  paying  its  own  pro  rata  share  in  the  protective  associations  the 
State  makes  an  appropriation  of  $15,000. 

Disposal  of  Brush. — All  persons  engaged  in  cutting  timber  from  “lands 
within  the  State  of  Idaho  are  required  to  pile  and  burn  or  otherwise 
dispose  of  the  brush,  limbs,  tops,  and  other  materials  incident  to  such 
cutting  which  are  4 inches  or  under  in  diameter ; and  the  times  and 
methods  of  so  doing  shall  be  prescribed  by  the  warden  of  the  fire  dis- 
trict in  which  said  cutting  shall  be  done.” 

Permit  for  Burning  Brush. — Between  June  1st  and  October  1st  no 
person  must  set  out  fire  for  the  purpose  of  clearing  land  without  a writ- 
ten permit  from  the  fire  warden ; and  at  no  time  can  a fire  he  set  out 
unless  sufficient  help  is  present  to  control  it,  and  unless  it  is  watched 
until  it  is  out. 

Railroads. — All  railroads  must  keep  the  ground  for  50  feet  on  each 
side  of  the  track  where  it  is  a part  of  the  right  of  way  clear  of  all  com- 
bustible materials.  Railroad  employees  must  not  leave  deposits  of  fire 
near  woodlands,  and  trainmen  on  discovering  fires  adjacent  to  the  track 
must  report  them  at  the  next  station. 

Spark  Arresters. — All  users  of  spark-emitting  locomotives,  logging  and 
portable  engines,  traction  engines,  or  stationary  engines  between  June 
1st  and  October  1st  must  provide  the  same  with  good  and  efficient  spark 
arresters. 

Comment. — The  president  of  the  Northern  Idaho  Forestry  Association 
says : 

“In  Idaho  private  timber  owners,  the  State  administration  and  the  people 
at  large  believe  in  the  protection  of  their  forests  from  fire,  and  today  there 
is  probably  no  locality  in  the  world,  not  even  except  Germany,  where  this 
branch  of  conservation  is  so  efficiently  handled  as  in  the  timber  section  of 
northern  Idaho  covered  by  our  four  local  fire  associations.”* 

*Report  of  the  Forestry  Committee,  Fifth  National  Conservation  Congress.  1913. 


40 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


MONTANA. 

Montana  lias  a comparatively  small  amount  of  forest  land,  and  the 
greater  part  of  this  is  included  in  the  National  forests,  which  are  thor- 
oughly protected  by  the  Government.  However,  Montana  maintains  a 
well  organized  fire  protective  system,  which,  except  for  the  amount  of 
the  appropriation,  which  is  $5,000  a year,  is  abreast  of  most  of  the 
western  States. 

Organization. — The  State  Forester,  “who  shall  be  skilled  in  the  science 
of  forestry  and  whose  salary  shall  be  $2,500  per  annum  and  actual  neces- 
sary expenses,”  and  who  is  responsible  to  the  State  Board  of  Land  Com- 
missioners, has  entire  charge  of  the  fire  warden  system.  The  fire  ward- 
ens are  of  two  kinds.  The  volunteer  -fire  wardens  are  public-spirited 
citizens  appointed  by  the  State  Forester  in  such  numbers  and  localities 
as  he  may  deem  wise.  On  the  other  hand,  the  sheriffs,  game  Avardens, 
and  deputy  game  Avardens  are  ex  officio  fire  wardens,  and  are  deemed 
' paid  fire  wardens,  though  receiving  no  compensation  except  such  as  they 
receive  in  connection  with  their  other  duties.  Fire  Avardens  may  sum- 
mon assistance  for  putting  out  fires  and  perform  such  other  duties  as 
are  required  of  them  for  the  protection  of  the  forests.  Mo  fire  warden, 
however,  may  incur  any  expense  in  excess  of  $50  without  expressed  au- 
thority from  the  State  Board  of  Land  Commissioners. 

Railroads. — Railroads  are  required  to  keep  their  rights  of  way  clear 
of  combustible  material  for  a distance  of  100  feet  on  each  side  of  the 
track.  All  railroads  are  also  required  to  plow  fire  lines  6 feet  wide  at  a 
distance  of  50  feet  from  the  track  wherever  it  passes  through  a range 
or  grazing  country.  If  any  railroad  fails  to  comply  AAuth  this  law,  the 
county  commissioners  may  plow  such  fire  lines  and  recover  the  expense 
from  the  railroad. 

Disposal  of  Brush. — Wherever  timber  is  cut  on  State  lands  the  opera- 
tors are  required  to  pile  and  burn  the  brush  and  slashings  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  prevent  forest  fires. 

NEW  ENGLAND  STATES. 

All  six  of  the  WeAv  England  States  have  efficient  fire  protective  or- 
ganizations and  fairly  effective  forest  fire  laws.  Though  these  organi- 
zations are  variously  constituted,  still  the  administration  of  the  laws  in 
each  State  is  in  the  hands  of  a technically  trained  forester  who  is  either 
responsible  directly  to  a commission  or  to  the  chief  official  of  such  a 
commission. 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


41 


MAINE. 

Maine  and  New  York  are  tire  only  northeastern  States  which  restrict 
their  efforts  at  forest  protection  to  what  they  call  the  forest  region  of 
the  State.  In  the  former  State  the  lands  which  are  protected  are  all  in 
the  hands  of  private  owners;  while  in  New  York  protection  is  exercised 
largely  for  the  benefit  of  State  lands,  which  constitute  a considerable 
proportion  of  the  area  which  is  protected. 

Forestry  District. — The  Maine  forestry  district  comprises  approxi- 
mately nine  and  one-half  million  acres  of  land  in  the  roughest  portion 
of  the  State.  The  land  in  this  district  is  specially  taxed  at  the  rate  of 
15  cents  on  the  hundred  dollars,  or  about  1%  cents  per  acre.  This 
yields  a revenue  of  something  like  $70,000,  all  of  which  is  used  for  pro- 
tecting this  district  from  forest  fires. 

Forest  Commissioner—  The  administration  of  all  the  forest  laws  is 
in  the  hands  of  a forest  commissioner,  who  is  responsible  directly  to  the 
Governor.  His  duties  are  defined  as  follows : 

“The  forest  commissioner  shall  take  measures  for  the  prevention,  control, 
and  extinguishing  of  forest  fires  in  said  forestry  district,  and  to  this  end  he 
shall  establish  such  sub-forestry  districts  as  he  may  deem  necessary  for 
effective  protection  against  loss  or  damage  by  fire.  He  shall  have  authority 
to  establish  lookout  stations  connected  by  telephone,  and  to  equip  and  main- 
tain depots  for  necessary  tools  for  the  extinguishment  of  forest  fires.” 

Forest  Fire  Wardens. — The  commissioner  appoints  one  general  forest 
fire  warden  for  each  district,  and  within  the  districts  such  numbers  of 
deputy  fire  wardens  as  in  his  judgment  are  necessary.  The  general  fire 
wardens  receive  compensation  at  the  rate  of  $3  per  day,  with  an  allow- 
ance for  expenses  of  not  to  exceed  $2  per  day,  for  every  day  they  are 
on  duty ; while  the  deputy  forest  fire  wardens  receive  $2  and  subsistence 
for  each  and  every  day  of  actual  service. 

Lookouts  and  Patrols. — At  the  end  of  the  fire  season  of  1913,  42  look- 
out stations  were  being  operated  in  the  forestry  district,  while  173  patrol- 
men were  employed.  While  the  lookout  men  were  obliged  to  remain  on 
duty  at  their  posts  throughout  the  season,  the  patrols  were  employed  in 
the  construction  of  telephone  lines,  trails,  camps,  etc.,  when  the  weather 
conditions  would  permit.  During  dry  and  dangerous  seasons  the  patrols 
were  used  largely  along  the  railroad  lines  and  in  regions  where  fisher- 
men, hunters,  and  camping  parties  were  using  the  woods,  lakes,  and 
streams.  In  addition  to  the  patrols  and  lookouts,  something  like  three 
hundred  fire  wardens  are  appointed  in  the  forest  counties  and  townships 
of  the  forest  district.  All  wardens  may,  for  the  purpose  of  controlling 


42 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


and  extinguishing  fires,  summon  to  tlieir  assistance  citizens  of  any 
county,  who  shall  be  paid  15  cents  per  hour  and  subsistence  during 
actual  service. 

Railroads. — Railroads  are  required  to  keep  their  rights  of  way  clear 
of  inflammable  material,  and  to  furnish  all  locomotives  which  run 
through  forest  land  with  spark  arresters.  Employees  of  railroads  are 
forbidden  to  deposit  live  coals  in  the  vicinity  of  woodlands,  and  are 
required  to  report  fires  found  burning  on  or  near  the  right  of  way. 
During  the  past  year  chief  fire  wardens  have  been  appointed  for  the 
territory  along  the  right  of  way  of  the  railroads.  These  men  were  paid 
by  the  Forestry  Department,  and  the  State  was  reimbursed  by  the  rail- 
roads. Under  the  direction  of  these  chief  wardens,  patrols,  fire  trains, 
etc.,  were  maintained  and  expenses  paid  by  the  railroads. 

Comment. — The  forest  commissioner,  who  now  is  a technically  trained 
forester,  summarizes  the  work  which  he  proposes  to  take  hold  of  as  fol- 
lows : 

“We  plan  to  extend  the  system  of  lookout  stations  and  to  improve  the  sta- 
tions already  constructed  as  fast  as  possible.  We  believe  that  the  lookout 
stations  form  the  backbone  of  our  protective  system  and  that  they  should  be 
supplemented  by  patrols  when  necessary.  We  expect  to  be  able  to  build  sev- 
eral lines  of  telephone,  install  additional  boxes  of  lire  tools,  and  in  some 
instances  furnish  a camping  outfit  for  a fire-fighting  crew  in  central  places.” 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


Forestry  Commission.- — ISTew  Hampshire  has  a forestry  commission 
of  three  members  appointed  by  the  Governor,  who  serve  without  com- 
pensation, but  receive  legitimate  expenses  incident  to  the  carrying  out 
of  their  duties. 

State  Forester. — The  Forestry  Commission  appoints  a State  Forester 
at  a salary  of  $2,500  a year  and  reasonable  traveling,  field  and  office  ex- 
penses, who  executes  all  matters  pertaining  to  forestry  within  the  juris- 
diction of  the  State. 

The  State  Forester  is  empowered  to  build,  equip,  and  maintain  moun- 
tain lookout  stations  connected  by  telephone  lines,  which  stations  are  to 
be  used  for  the  discovery  and  control  of  forest  fires.  He  may  purchase 
or  receive  gifts  of  land  and  hold  them  in  the  name  of  the  State  for 
observatory  sites,  for  rights  of  tvay,  paths,  and  telephone  lines;  and  if 
necessary  sites  cannot  be  obtained  by  either  purchase  or  gift,  the  For- 
estry Commission  may  acquire  the  same  under  the  power  of  eminent 
domain.  The  State  Forester  may  call  an  annual  conference  of  forest 


FOREST  FIRES  IN'  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


43 


fire  wardens  and  other  employees  for  the  purpose  of  improving  the 
service.  He  may  also  establish  supply  stations  for  tools  and  apparatus 
used  in  fire  fighting,  etc. 

Protective  Force. — The  State  is  divided  up  into  four  forest  fire  dis- 
tricts, each  of  which  is  in  charge  of  a district  chief.  Under  this  chief 
three  classes  of  men  are  employed : 

(1)  Patrol  service  performed  by  (a)  Federal  patrolmen  paid  by  the 
United  States,  (b)  Association  patrolmen  paid  by  the  Hew  Hampshire 
Timberland  Owners’  Association,  (c)  State  patrolmen  hired  tempo- 
rarily by  the  State  during  dry  weather. 

(2)  The  mountain  lookout  stations  in  charge  of  watchmen  employed 
by  the  State. 

There  were  operated  in  1912  twenty  permanent  stations  and  five  tem- 
porary ones.  These  stations  reported  that  year  178  fires  to  the  wardens 
and  patrolmen,  who  proceeded  without  delay  to  extinguish  them. 

(3)  Forest  fire  wardens  : 

One  forest  fire  warden  in  each  town*  and  one  or  more  deputy  wardens 
in  each  town.  The  list  of  forest  fire  wardens  and  deputies  for  1912  in- 
cludes some  650  names. 

Fire  Wardens. — Selectmen  of  all  towns  and  mayors  of  all  cities  are 
required  to  recommend  persons  who  are  fit  to  fill  the  office  of  forest  fire 
warden  and  deputy  fire  warden,  and  these  men  may  be  appointed  to  fill 
these  positions  by  the  State  Forester.  These  wardens,  under  instructions 
from  the  State  Forester,  are  required  to  patrol  the  woods  of  their  re- 
spective districts,  warn  persons  who  are  traversing  the  woods  about  light- 
ing and  extinguishing  fires,  post  warning  notices  and  arrest  offenders 
against  the  forest  law.  The  State  Forester  shall  have  power  to  remove 
the  wardens  from  office  at  his  discretion.  The  expense  of  fighting  forest 
and  brush  fires  and  expenses  locally  incurred  by  forest  fire  wardens  in 
preventing  fires  is  borne  equally  by  the  town  or  city  and  by  the  State. 
Wardens  have  power  to  arrest  without  warrant  any  who  are  offending 
against  the  forest  laws  of  the  State. 

Appropriation. — The  appropriation  for  maintaining  the  Forest  Fire 
Service  amounts  to  $10,000  a year. 

Brush  Burning. — The  law  forbids  the  burning  of  brush  in  or  near 
woodland  between  April  1st  and  November  1st  without  the  permission 
of  the  forest  fire  warden. 

Spark  Arresters. — The  owners  and  operators  of  portable  steam  saw- 
mills are  required  to  use  spark  arresters,  which  are  approved  by  the 
State  Forester. 

*The  New  England  “town”  is  an  administrative  division  of  the  county,  almost  identi- 
cal with  our  Southern  “township,”  but  with  a larger  share  of  self-government. 


44 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


Tlie  section  referring  to  this  law  reads  as  follows: 

“No  person,  except  when  the  ground  is  covered  with  snow,  shall  operate 
any  portable  steam  mill  unless  the  same  is  provided  with  a suitable  spark 
arrester,  approved  by  the  State  Forester.  Such  approval  shall  be  in  writing, 
signed  by  the  forester,  and  said  approval  may  be  revoked  by  the  State  For- 
ester in  the  same  manner. 

“It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  State  Forester  to  examine  all  portable  steam 
mills  or  cause  them  to  be  examined,  whenever  he  deems  it  necessary,  to  deter- 
mine whether  the  same  are  kept  in  constant  use,  as  provided  for  in  section  1 
of  this  act.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  town  forest  fire  warden  to  examine 
portable  steam  mills,  when  requested  to  do  so  by  the  State  Forester,  and 
make  reports  on  the  same  in  such  form  as  the  State  Forester  may  require.” 

Railroads. — New  Hampshire  seems  to  have  no  definite  laws  to  control 
railroad  fires.  The  Forestry  Commission  in  their  report  for  1911-1912 
recommends  as  follows : 

“A  few  years  ago  the  Main  Central  Railroad  began  a systematic  work  for  fire 
prevention,  viz.,  making  it  the  duty  of  one  man  in  each  section  crew  to  patrol 
the  track,  following  trains.  This  work  was  especially  effective  during  the 
dry  season  of  1911,  patrolmen  being  provided  with  velocipedes  so  that  they 
could  keep  their  section  well  covered.  They  would  carry  on  these  velocipedes 
a shovel,  or  hoe,  a bucket  of  water  and  a mop  to  put  out  small  fires.  On 
account  of  the  heavy  grades,  this  company  has  recently  been  using  a number 
of  oil  burning  engines,  and  these  entirely  eliminate  the  fire  risk  for  the  trains 
on  which  they  are  used.” 

VERMONT. 

Vermont  employs  a technically  trained  State  Forester,  who  is  respon- 
sible to  a State  Board  of  Agriculture  and  Forestry.  Mr.  Robert  M.  Ross 
in  an  article  on  “Forest  Fire  Prevention  in  Vermont”  in  American  For- 
estry, November,  1913,  says  that  Vermont  a few  years  ago  had  practi- 
cally no  system  of  fire  prevention,  hut  today  stands  well  up  in  the  list  of 
States  which  are  striving  to  reduce  to  a minimum  the  danger  of  forest 
fires.  The  State  appropriation  for  forestry  purposes  amounts  to  some- 
thing over  $10,000  a year,  though  only  $1,500  of  this  was  used  for  fire 
prevention  last  year. 

Fire  Wardens. — A new  law  passed  in  1913  provides  that  the  select- 
man or  chief  township  officer  shall  appoint  a fire  warden  by  January 
1st  of  each  year  who  shall  meet  the  approval  of  the  State  Forester.  If 
this  appointment  is  not  made  by  March  1st,  the  State  Forester  himself 
may  make  the  appointment.  This  provision  makes  it  possible  to  secure 
good  wardens  in  forest  towns  and  keep  them  in  office  as  long  as  is  de- 
sirable. These  wardens  are  paid  at  the  rate  of  $2  per  day  when  actu- 
ally engaged  in  fire  work ; all  other  men  who  are  hired  to  do  fire  fighting 
work  are  paid  by  the  town  at  the  same  rate  as  those  engaged  in  work 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


45 


on  the  roads,  which  is  usually  $1.75  per  day.  Whenever  the  amount  ex- 
pended in  fighting  fire  in  a town  exceeds  5 per  cent  of  the  grand  list  of 
the  town,  the  State  pays  the  sum  over  this  per  cent.  Thus  the  poorer 
towns  are  helped  by  the  richer  ones,  an  arrangement  which  seems  no 
more  than  right. 

Lookouts.- — The  two  main  branches  of  protective  work  are  a series  of 
lookout  stations  and  a system  of  patrolling.  At  the  present  time  Ver- 
mont has  four  lookout  stations  in  operation,  with  prospects  of  the  erec- 
tion of  another  one  in  the  immediate  future.  Two  of  these  stations  have 
been  erected  by  the  owners  of  woodland  in  the  vicinity  of  the  stations, 
while  the  other  two  were  constructed  by  the  State  itself  on  State  forests. 
Men  are  kept  at  these  stations  during  the  dry  periods  of  the  year,  that 
is,  from  May  to  October.  These  lookout  men  are  connected  by  telephone 
with  the  town  wardens,  so  that  fires  which  have  been  discovered  can 
quickly  be  extinguished. 

A new  law  gives  the  State  Forester  authority  to  erect  such  buildings, 
lookout  stations,  etc.,  as  may  be  desirable  on  State  forests,  the  same  to 
be  paid  for  out  of  the  general  forestry  appropriation. 

Patrols. — “In  several  sections  of  the  State  patrols  are  of  far  more  value 
than  lookout  stations.  During  this  season  we  have  had  several  patrolmen 
out,  a few  of  whom  we  have  kept  along  sections  of  railroad  tracks  where 
there  is  especial  danger  of  fire  starting.  The  others  have  confined  their 
work  to  districts  which  are  frequented  by  fishermen,  hunters,  and  campers. 

“In  regard  to  establishing  patrols  in  very  dangerous  sections,  there  is  a 
law  which  empowers  any  warden  of  a town,  with  the  approval  of  the  State 
Forester,  to  appoint  a patrolman  during  dangerous  periods,  said  patrolman 
to  be  paid  by  the  town  in  which  his  work  is  done. 

“For  the  past  two  years  the  State  Forest  Service  has  kept  its  patrolmen 
busy  during  the  months  when  the  danger  of  fire  is  small,  by  having  them  work 
on  trails  in  the  mountainous  sections  of  the  State.” 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

Massachusetts,  with  an  estimated  area  of  2,000,000  acres  of  woodland 
and  an  additional  1,000,000  acres  of  so-called  waste  land  capable  of 
reforestation,  has  perhaps  the  strongest  and  most  thoroughly  organized 
forestry  department  of  any  of  the  New  England  States. 

Supervision. — The  State  Eorester,  who  is  in  charge  of  all  of  the  for- 
estry work,  is  appointed  by  the  Governor  with  the  consent  of  the  council. 
He  must  be  a trained  forester  who  has  had  a technical  education.  He 
is  to  be  an  ex  officio  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture.  The 
State  Fire  Warden  is  appointed  by  the  State  Forester  to  take  entire 
charge  of  the  fire  protective  work  of  the  State.  He  is  directly  respon- 
sible to  the  State  Forester.  Under  the  State  Fire  Warden  are  one  as- 


46 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


sistant  State  Fire  Warden,  one  locomotive  inspector,  and  four  district 
forest  wardens  in  charge  of  the  four  forest  districts  of  the  State. 

Forest  W ardens. — The  forest  wardens  are  appointed  by  the  mayor  and 
aldermen  of  cities  and  the  selectmen  in  towns,  subject  to  the  approval  of 
the  State  Forester.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  forest  warden  to  “take  precau- 
tions to  prevent  the  spread  of  forest  fires  and  the  improper  kindling 
thereof,  and  he  shall  have  sole  charge  of  their  extinguishment.  He  shall 
investigate  the  causes  and  extent  of  forest  fires  and  the  injury  done 
thereby,’'"  etc.  Forest  wardens  are  compensated  for  making  investiga- 
tions for  the  State  Forester  at  a rate  not  to  exceed  35  cents  per  hour  for 
the  time  actually  employed  by  them.  The  payment  to  forest  wardens, 
to  their  deputies  and  to  the  persons  assisting  them  at  a forest  fire  is  at 
a rate  prescribed  by  the  town. 

At  the  present  time  there  are  in  the  employ  of  the  State  353  forest 
wardens  with  over  1,000  deputies. 

Lookouts. — Massachusetts  has  an  excellent  system  of  lookout  stations 
scattered  over  the  forested  part  of  the  State.  In  the  past  year  twenty- 
one  of  these  stations  were  operated  with  very  gratifying  results.  The 
observers  form  part  of  the  State  system  of  fire  protection  and  are  paid 
a salary  by  the  State.  The  wardens,  on  the  other  hand,  are  considered 
township  officers  and  are  paid  by  the  local  authorities. 

Forestry  Conventions. — An  excellent  provision  of  the  forestry  law  is 
that  the  State  Forester  may  expend  a.  sum  not  to  exceed  $2,000  in  making 
necessary  arrangements  for  conventions  of  forest  wardens  and  in  paying 
wholly  or  in  part  their  traveling  expenses  to  and  from  such  conventions. 
By  this  means  the  fire  protective  force  becomes  a more  coherent  and 
intelligent  body  of  men  each  year,  so  that  steady  improvement  in  effect- 
iveness is  insured. 

Railroads. — Railroads  are  required  to  install  and  maintain  spark 
arresters,  and  to  clear  off  all  inflammable  material  on  each  side  of  their 
track  to  a point  200  feet  distant.  In  order  to  do  this  they  are  empowered 
to  enter  upon  unimproved  land  adjoining  their  right  of  way,  after  giving 
due  notice,  and  clear  the  land  of  dead  leaves,  dead  grass,  and  dead  wood 
to  a distance  of  100  feet  from  the  track  without  thereby  becoming  liable 
for  trespassing.  Railroads  are  also  forbidden  to  leave  deposits  of  fire, 
hot  ashes,  or  live  coals  upon  their  rights  of  way.  They  are  required  to 
post  notices  furnished  by  the  State  Forester.  In  addition,  train  hands 
are  required  to  signal  by  blowing  the  whistle  when  fires  are  discovered, 
and  to  notify  the  section  men.  Section  men  or  other  employees  are 
required  when  notified  to  proceed  at  once  to  the  fire  and  extinguish  it. 
Railroads  are  liable  to  the  authorities  for  the  cost  of  extinguishing  auy 
fire  set  by  them. 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


47 


RHODE  ISLAND. 

Rhode  Island,  which  has  an  area  of  less  than  683,000  acres,  or  little 
more  than  ISTorth  Carolina’s  largest  county,  contains  only  250,000  acres 
of  woodland,  practically  all  of  which  is  in  farm  woodlots.  nevertheless, 
this  small  State  has  a Commissioner  of  Forestry  and  a State  fire  pro- 
tective system. 

Commissioner  of  Forestry. — The  Governor  is  required  to  appoint  a 
Commissioner  of  Forestry  to  hold  office  for  three  years.  His  duties  are 
principally  to  collect  and  publish  information  relating  to  the  forests  of 
the  State,  their  protection  and  perpetuation.  The  Commissioner  is  paid 
$1,000  a year  and  expenses.  The  expenses,  however,  together  with  the 
costs  of  printing,  etc.,  must  not  exceed  $500  annually. 

Forest  Wardens. — The  town  council  of  every  town  is  required  to  ap- 
point each  year  a forest  warden  and  to  notify  the  Forestry  Commis- 
sioner of  this  appointment.  In  any  town  having  4,000  acres  or  more  of 
woodland  the  town  warden  may  divide  up  the  town  into  two  or  more  dis- 
tricts, and  appoint  district  wardens  for  each.  There  were,  in  1913,  one 
hundred  forest  wardens  in  the  State. 

The  compensation  of  wardens  is  fixed  at  30  cents  per  hour  and  that 
of  employees  of  the  wardens  at  18  cents  per  hour  for  actual  services  in 
extinguishing  forest  fires.  They  are  paid  for  patrolling  and  serving  as 
watchmen  at  a lookout  station  at  20  cents  per  hour.  In  addition  to  this, 
town  forest  wardens  are  paid  $10  a year  and  district  forest  wardens  $5 
a year  in  lieu  of  all  allowances  for  postage,  etc. 

Patrols  and  Lookouts. — “During  a period  of  drought  the  town  forest 
warden  may  require  the  district  forest  wardens  to  patrol  their  several 
districts,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  town  council.” 

Fire  wardens  are  required,  when  fires  occur,  to  take  measures  to 
extinguish  them.  They  are  given  “authority  to  summon  any  able-bodied 
male  person  in  his  town  between  the  ages  of  18  and  50  years  to  aid  in  the 
prevention  or  extinguishment  of  a forest  fire,  and  may  require  the  use 
of  horses,  wagons,  and  other  property  adapted  to  the  purpose.” 

A minimum  of  five  hours  pay  is  allowed  to  persons  who  are  officially 
summoned  to  assist  in  extinguishing  forest  fires,  one-half  to  be  paid  by 
the  town  and  one-half  by  the  State. 

Whenever  two  or  more  adjoining  towns  which  contain  an  aggregate 
of  8,000  acres  or  more  of  woodland,  or  whenever  any  number  of  forest- 
owners  whose  woodland  in  any  two  or  more  adjoining  woodlands  aggre- 
gate 4,000  acres,  shall  in  any  town  establish,  at  their  own  expense  and 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Commissioner  of  Forestry,  a lookout  sta- 
tion connected  with  the  local  telephone  system  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 


48 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


tecting  the  forests  from  fire,  the  town  forest  warden  of  the  town  in  which 
such  lookout  station  is  established  shall  appoint  a watchman  for  the  sta- 
tion during  such  period  as  the  town  forest  warden  may  think  advisable, 
not  exceeding  300  hours  in  any  one  year : Provided,  that  not  more  than 
two  such  lookout  stations  in  any  one  county  shall  he  entitled  to  draw 
public  money.  One-half  the  expense  for  the  service  of  watchmen  and 
for  telephone  service  shall  he  paid  by  the  town  and  one-half  by  the  State. 

Appropriation. — The  State  of  Rhode  Island  makes  a total  appropria- 
tion of  $3,000  for  forestry  purposes,  one-half  of  which  is  used  for  fire 
protection  and  the  other  half  for  the  salary  of  the  Forestry  Commis- 
sioner and  his  expenses. 

Permits  for  Burning  Brush. — Ho  fire  may  he  set  between  March  1st 
and  December  1st  except  by  written  permission  of  the  town  or  district 
forest  warden,  except  on  plowed  fields  or  on  lands  devoid  of  inflammable 
materials,  when  such  a fire  is  at  least  100  feet  from  any  woodland. 

Railroads. — Railroads  are  authorized  to  enter  upon  unimproved  land 
adjoining  their  rights  of  way  in  order  to  clear  at  their  own  expense  such 
lands  of  dead  leaves,  dead  grass,  and  dead  wood  to  a distance  of  100  feet 
from  the  tracks,  provided  sufficient  notice  is  given  to  the  owner. 

CONNECTICUT. 

About  one-half  the  State  of  Connecticut,  Avhich  has  an  area  approxi- 
mately one-tenth  that  of  Horth  Carolina,  is  better  adapted  to  the  raising 
of  trees  than  of  any  other  crop,  and  the  largest  factor  in  handling  the 
forest  land  is  the  fire  problem.  More  than  4 per  cent  of  the  1,500,000 
acres  of  forest  land  was  burnt  over  in  1911. 

State  Fire  Warden. — The  State  Forester  of  Connecticut  is  an  officer 
of  the  Connecticut  Agricultural  Experiment  Station.  He  is  appointed 
by  the  director  of  the  station  and  is  paid  out  of  the  general  appropria- 
tion for  the  support  of  the  Experiment  Station.  The  State  Forester  is 
ex  officio  State  Forest  Fire  Warden,  and  as  such  is  given  supervision  of 
town  fire  wardens,  and  is  required  to  issue  notices  and  regulations  to  the 
wardens  and  cause  violations  of  the  laws  in  regard  to  forest  fires  to  be 
prosecuted. 

Fire  Wardens. — Selectmen  of  the  towns  are  required  upon  request  of 
the  State  Forest  Fire  Warden  to  appoint  town  fire  wardens,  who  shall 
act  for  a term  of  one  year.  Such  town  fire  Avarden  may  establish  two 
or  more  fire  districts  in  the  tOAAm  and  appoint  district  fire  wardens  for 
each.  Town  and  district  fire  wardens  are  required  to  prevent  and  extin- 
guish forest  fires  and  enforce  fire  laws.  Any  fire  warden  may  arrest 
without  warrant  any  one  violating  the  forest  fire  law.  During  a season 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


49 


of  drought  the  town  fire  warden  may  establish  a fire  patrol  in  the  town. 
He  may  summon  necessary  assistance  for  extinguishing  fires  and  may 
also  require  the  use  of  horses  and  other  property  needed  for  such  pur- 
poses. 

Compensation. — Town  and  district  fire  wardens  shall  receive  35  cents 
per  hour  for  time  actually  employed  at  forest  fires  or  otherwise  discharg- 
ing their  duties ; while  the  selectmen  are  to  fix  the  prices  per  hour  to  be 
paid  laborers  employed  by  fire  wardens  and  deputies,  not  exceeding  20 
cents  per  hour.  All  expenses  incurred  by  the  town  wardens,  their  depu- 
ties, and  men  employed  by  them,  together  with  their  own  compensation, 
are  paid  for,  one-half  by  the  town,  one-fourth  by  the  county,  and  one- 
fourth  by  the  State. 

Lookouts. — In  regard  to  lookout  stations,  the  State  Forester  reports 
that  two  stations  were  maintained  experimentally  during  1912  with  valu- 
able results.  If  possible,  other  stations  will  be  established  during  1913, 
the  State  cooperating  with  towns  and  landowners  when  practicable.  If 
the  stations  are  equipped  with  telephones  the  observers  will  be  able  to 
locate  fires  definitely,  and  thus  be  able  to  inform  the  nearest  wardens 
at  once. 

Railroads. — Only  two  laws  relating  to  forest  fire  work  by  the  railroads 
are  at  present  in  force.  The  first  makes  a railroad  company  responsible 
to  the  person  injured  when  property  is  damaged  by  a fire  from  their 
engine. 

The  other  law  was  a compromise  measure.  “The  State  Forester  pre- 
pared a bill  for  the  Legislature  which  would  have  made  patrol  compul- 
sory on  the  part  of  the  railroads,  upon  instruction  from  the  State  For- 
ester. The  railroads  were  opposed  to  any  such  measure,  and  they  offered 
a substitute  making  themselves  liable  for  the  cost  of  fighting  fires  which 
they  started.  This  seemed  worth  while  accepting,  and  for  the  time  being 
the  idea  of  compulsory  patrol  was  dropped.  The  measure  was  enacted 
into  law  in  the  summer  of  1911.” 

Comment. — At  the  Weeks  Law  Conference  in  Washington,  January, 
1913,  the  State  Forester  said: 

“I  do  not  feel  we  need  any  law  compelling  patrol,  for  I think  we  can  get 
the  help  of  the  railroads  in  this  matter  without  compulsion.  If.  we  can  get 
them  to  patrol  voluntarily,  it  will  produce  a better  cooperative  spirit  between 
the  railroads  and  ourselves.  It  may  be  advisable  for  us  in  Connecticut  to 
have  a law  compelling  inspection  of  the  locomotives,  because  it  seems  to  me 
patrol  work  is  not  getting  to  the  bottom  of  the  trouble.  We  ought  to  go 
further  back  than  that  and  eliminate  the  cause  of  fires.” 


4 


50 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


NORTHEASTERN  STATES. 

More  or  less  efficient  fire  protective  systems  exist  in  all  of  tlie  six 
States  here  classed  as  northeastern.  In  three  of  them,  however — Ohio, 
Indiana,  and  Delaware — where  the  forests  occur  chiefly  in  the  form  of 
farmers’  woodlots,  and  extensive  or  destructive  fires  rarely  occur,  no 
effort  has  been  made  to  develop  effective  working  forces.  In  the  three 
other  States  the  systems  are  some  of  the  most  effective  in  the  country. 

NEW  YORK. 

Hew  York  does  not  maintain  a fire  protective  system  for  the  whole 
State,  but  only  over  what  is  known  as  the  “forest  preserve”  area.  This 
consists  of  approximately  10,000,000  acres  in  the  Adi'rondacks  and  the 
Catskill  mountains,  about  one-fifth  of  which  belongs  to  the  State,  and  is 
known  as  the  State  Forest  Preserve. 

Supervision. — Fire  protection  is  under  the  general  charge  of  the 
Superintendent  of  Forests  and  the  immediate  supervision  of  the  Assist- 
ant Superintendent  of  Forests,  who  are  in  turn  responsible  to  the  State 
Conservation  Commission.  The  Conservation  Law  provides  for  the 
division  of  the  protected  area  into  districts,  each  to  be  in  charge  of  a 
district  forest  ranger,  who  shall  receive  an  annual  salary  of  not  to 
exceed  $1,500  and  necessary  expenses.  The  Adirondack  region  is  divided 
into  four  fire  districts  and  the  Catskill  territory  into  one. 

Rangers  and  Lookouts. — These  five  districts  are  divided  into  definite 
territories,  each  in  charge  of  a ranger.  “The  rangers’  duties  consist  in 
patrolling  the  dangerous  places,  watching  out  for  fire,  meeting  people, 
instructing  them  in  regard  to  building  camp  fires,  giving  them  literature 
and  keeping  in  close  touch  with  the  entire  territory.  Also  whenever  a 
fire  occurs  he  immediately  summons  help  and  endeavors  to  extinguish 
the  same  promptly.  During  the  past  four  years  fifty  mountain  observa- 
tion stations  have  been  established.  Each  of  these  observers,  as  well  as 
the  rangers,  has  connection  with  the  Commercial  Telephone  System, 
and  the  observers  are  provided  with  a camp,  field-glass,  and  map  of  their 
territory,  together  with  a list  of  the  rangers,  fire  wardens,  landowners, 
etc.,  to  be  notified  in  case  of  fire.”  The  fact  that  so  many  fires  have 
burned  over  only  small  areas  is  due  to  their  prompt  discovery  by  lookouts 
who  were  able  to  get  men  to  the  fires  quickly. 

“ninety- five  per  cent  of  the  fires  are  detected  by  these  observers  while 
fires  are  in  their  incipient  stages,  and  but  very  few  fires  occur  which  are 
not  extinguished  promptly.”* 

’'American  Forestry.  Yol.  XIX.  p.  750. 


FOREST  FIRES  IjST  WORTH  CAROLINA. 


51 


Rangers  receive  a salary  of  $75  per  month,  and  necessary  expenses. 
They  may  employ  men  and  teams  to  fight  forest  fires  and  may  summon 
necessary  assistance. 

Expenses. — All  salaries,  costs,  and  expenses  incident  to  fire  protection 
are  paid  by  the  State  except  wages  and  expenses  incident  to  the  actual 
work  of  fighting  fires  which  are  already  burning,  which  shall  be  paid 
one-half  by  the  State  and  one-half  by  the  town  in  which  the  fire  wardens 
and  men  so  employed  were  actually  engaged  in  fighting  fires. 

Camp  Fires. — The  law  regarding  camp  fires  reads  in  part  as  follows : 

“Every  person  who  starts  a camp  or  other  fire  upon  or  in  the  vicinity  of 
forest  or  wood  land,  for  cooking,  obtaining  warmth,  or  any  industrial  pur- 
pose. shall,  before  lighting  the  same,  clear  the  ground  of  all  branches,  brush- 
wood. dry  leaves,  or  other  combustible  material  within  a radius  of  10  feet 
from  the  fire,  and  shall  carefully  extinguish  the  fire  before  quitting  the 
place.” 

Emergencies. — The  Governor  may  by  proclamation  forbid  hunting, 
fishing,  camping,  etc.,  in  the  forest  preserve  counties  on  account  of 
drought  or  other  emergency.  A very  valuable  provision  has  recently 
been  added  to  this  law  (March,  1914).  This  allows  the  Governor  to 
borrow  from  the  State  a sum  not  to  exceed  $100,000  for  the  purpose  of 
fighting  and  controlling  forest  fires  when  in  the  judgment  of  the  Con- 
servation Commission  “an  emergency  exists  whereby  through  inefficiency 
of  appropriations  it  is  found  impossible  to  protect  the  forests  of  the 
State  from  fire.” 

RAILROADS. 

The  forest  fire  laws  regarding  railroads  seem  to  be  very  effective  in 
ISTew  York.  Though  originally  confined  to  the  forest  preserve  counties, 
the  law  has  recently  been  amended  so  that  all  railroad  lines  in  the  State 
are  subject  to  inspection  and  are  obliged  to  comply  with  certain  laws 
and  regulations.  “The  Conservation  Law  provides  that  every  railroad 
company  and  every  person  operating  a railroad  in  any  part  of  the  State 
shall  properly  clean  its  right  of  way,  and  shall  provide  each  locomotive 
with  practical  and  efficient  spark-arresting  devices,  and  furthermore  said 
devices  shall  be  approved  by  the  Public  Service  Commission  and  shall 
be  at  all  times  maintained  in  good  repair.”* 

Patrol. — All  railroads  are  required  to  provide  necessary  patrol  as  the 
commission  may  direct  between  the  first  of  April  and  the  first  of  Novem- 
ber ; and  if  the  railroads  do  not  organize  and  maintain  such  fire  patrols, 
or  if  they  are  inadequate,  the  commission  is  required  to  organize  and 

♦Report  of  New  York  Conservation  Commission,  1912. 


52 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


maintain  efficient  patrols,  the  cost  of  which  shall  be  paid  to  the  com- 
mission by  the  railroads  whose  lines  are  thus  patrolled. 

Railroad  Inspectors. — In  addition  to  this,  railroads  are  required  to 
employ  competent  inspectors  to  examine  all  locomotives  as  they  leave  the 
division  point  or  roundhouse  between  March  1st  and  December  1st,  and 
to  make  reports  on  the  condition  of  the  fire  preventive  devices,  which 
reports  must  he  open  for  inspection  by  the  Conservation  Commission. 
All  trainmen  are  required  to  report  fires  at  the  first  station  at  which 
they  arrive,  and  the  station  agent  is  required  to  notify  the  nearest  State 
ranger  or  fire  warden. 

State  Inspectors. — In  addition  to  the  inspectors  employed  by  the  rail- 
roads, the  Conservation  Commission  maintains  two  chief  inspectors  for 
the  northern  and  southern  divisions  of  the  State  respectively.  These 
inspectors  receive  an  annual  salary  of  $1,200  and  expenses.  Four  addi- 
tional inspectors  are  employed  during  the  summer  months  to  assist  these 
chief  inspectors.  The  Conservation  Commission  has  power  to  require 
the  withdrawal  from  service  of  any  and  all  locomotive  or  logging  engines 
which  shall  he  reported  as  defective. 

The  railroads  have  been  cooperating  with  the  Conservation  Commis- 
sion in  a very  gratifying  way,  and  the  law  seems  to  be  working  quite 
effectively.  The  Superintendent  of  State  Forests  reports  that  ‘‘the 
inspection  of  thousands  of  miles  of  right  of  way  and  many  thousands  of 
engines  of  various  designs  and  types  at  numerous  places  has  kept  our 
force  very  busy.  Conferences  have  been  held  between  all  general  inspect- 
ors and  superintendents  of  motive  power  and  other  officials  of  railroads. 
As  a result  a better  understanding  has  been  reached  and  the  railroad 
officials  have  submitted  drawings  illustrating  proposed  changes  in  design 
for  the  approval  of  the  Public  Service  Commission.” 

Oil  Burning. — For  the  past  few  years  all  railroads  operating  in  the 
Adirondacks  during  the  summer  season  have  used  oil  as  fuel.  The 
Superintendent  of  F orests  says  in  regard  to  this : 

“The  use  of  oil  as  fuel  for  steam  development  eliminates  sparks  and  cinders 
as  a cause  of  fires.  We  know  of  no  case  where  fires  have  been  caused  in  New 
York  State  through  its  use.  During  the  oil-burning  season  last  year  there 
were  only  two  fires  along  the  New  York  Central  Railway  from  Utica  to 
Malone,  and  both,  I think,  were  caused  by  cigarettes  or  cigars  thrown  from 
smoking-car  windows.  However,  while  the  use  of  oil  is  effective,  a very 
large  percentage  of  the  fires  can  be  prevented  if  the  locomotives  are  equipped 
with  proper  devices  to  prevent  the  escape  of  sparks,  coals,  or  cinders.” 

Portable  Engines. — All  donkey,  traction,  portable  engines,  portable 
steam  sawmills  or  other  engines,  boilers,  or  locomotives  which  do  not 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


53 


burn  oil  as  fuel  must  be  provided  with  a screen  or  wire  netting  to  pre- 
vent the  escape  of  sparks  and  cinders  from  the  smokestacks,  and  with 
practical  devices  to  prevent  the  escape  of  fire  from  ash-pans  and  fire 
boxes.  Any  violation  of  this  law  is  subject  to  a penalty  of  $100,  and  iu 
addition  the  offender  shall  be  liable  to  treble  damages. 

Appropriation. — The  appropriation  for  fire  protective  work  is  now 
$100,000  a year,  and  the  commission  says  that  at  least  $125,000  per  year 
should  be  appropriated. 

The  chief  weakness  of  the  law  seems  to  be  that  it  does  not  apply  to  the 
whole  State.  The  Superintendent  of  Forests  says: 

“New  York  is  the  only  State  in  the  northeast  that  does  not  exercise  super- 
vision or  authority  over  forest  fires  in  the  entire  State.  The  law  should  be 
amended  to  give  this  commission  authority  to  organize,  in  any  section  of  the 
State  outside  of  the  ninety-six  fire  towns  in  the  forest  preserve,  where  the 
forests  are  threatened  and  forest  interests  are  sufficient,  a suitable  fire  organ- 
ization to  be  paid  for  by  the  territory  protected  and  towns  benefited.” 

Top  Lopping  Law. — This  law,  as  at  present  amended,  requires  that 
every  one  felling  evergreen  trees  for  sale  or  other  purposes  shall  cut  off 
from  the  trees  and  the  limbs  thereof  at  the  time  of  felling  or  at  some  time 
fixed  by  the  commission,  all  limbs  up  to  a point  where  the  trunk  or 
branch  does  not  exceed  3 inches  in  diameter.  The  commission  may 
decide  that  the  limbs  need  not  be  lopped  if  in  their  judgment  the  danger 
from  fire  does  not  warrant  it.  The  working  of  this  law  has  been  very 
carefully  investigated  by  all  interested  parties,  and  the  general  conclu- 
sion arrived  at  is  that  when  judiciously  carried  out  the  top  lopping  law 
does  very  materially  increase  the  fire  protection;  that  the  thoroughness 
with  which  the  lopping  is  done  has  much  to  do  with  the  future  results ; 
that  a limitation  may  be  made  beyond  which  it  is  not  necessary  to  lop ; 
that  a reasonable  extension  of  time  should  be  allowed  operators  in  order 
to  accomplish  their  work  at  the  minimum  expense. 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

Pennsylvania  was  one  of  the  first  States  to  take  up  the  question  of 
forestry,  and  has  been  ever  since  a leader  in  this  movement.  However, 
largely  on  account  of  politics,  she  has  of  late  years  allowed  many  of  the 
other  States  to  get  ahead  of  her  in  the  efficiency  of  her  forest  fire  admin- 
istration. The  forest  commissioner  claims  that  even  now  5,000,000  acres 
of  land  are  being  kept  nonproductive  by  forest  fires.  This  area,  he  says, 
if  properly  protected,  would  yield  at  least  one  billion  feet  of  timber  per 
year. 


54 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


Organization  and  Appropriation. — The  Commissioner  of  Forestry, 
who  is  also  President  of  the  State  Forestry  Reservation  Commission, 
and  the  Deputy  Commissioner  of  Forestry  are  designated  Chief  Fire 
Warden  and  Deputy  Chief  Fire  Warden  respectively.  These  officials 
are  given  immediate  supervision  and  control  of  the  fire  warden  system. 
The  Commissioner  of  Forestry  is  required  to  appoint  in  each  borough 
and  township,  if  necessary,  one  district  fire  warden,  who  is  to  be  chosen 
for  his  physical  fitness  and  good  reputation  for  sobriety,  honesty,  and 
ability.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  fire  warden  to  extinguish  fires.  He  is 
authorized  to  employ  necessary  assistants  and  has  the  power  to  compel 
the  attendance  of  assistants  if  necessary.  District  fire  wardens  receive 
as  compensation  25  cents  per  hour  and  actual  expenses  while  engaged 
in  the  performance  of  their  duties,  and  persons  employed  by  them 
receive  15  cents  per  hour.  Ho  owner  or  lessee  or  person  employed  by 
them  shall  receive  any  compensation  for  extinguishing  fire  upon  the 
lands  of  such  owner  or  lessee.  Assistant  fire  wardens  may  he  appointed 
wherever  needed,  and  their  compensation  is  20  cents  per  hour  and  neces- 
sary expenses. 

Fire  wardens  may  be  required  by  the  Commissioner  of  Forestry  to 
keep  daily  patrol  in  regions  which  are  especially  hazardous,  for  which 
services  they  shall  he  paid  a stated  sum,  not  to  exceed  $25  per  month. 

For  the  carrying  out  of  the  provisions  of  this  act,  which  was  passed 
in  1909,  the  sum  of  $50,000  is  provided  biennially,  or  $25,000  a year. 

Railroads. — There  are  no  railroad  laws  to  provide  protection  for 
forest  lands  as  such.  There  is  a law,  however,  which  requires  the  use 
of  spark  arresters  and  the  keeping  of  rights  of  way  clear  of  inflammable 
material  on  lands  in  which  oil  wells  and  gas  wells  are  situated.  This 
law,  of  course,  has  a very  restricted  application. 

Cooperation  with  Local  Forest  Fire  Associations. — A latv  passed  in 
1913  greatly  widens  and  strengthens  the  field  of  fire  protective  operations 
in  Pennsylvania.  By  it  the  Department  of  Forestry  is  authorized  to 
enter  into  cooperative  agreement  with  local  forest  fire  associations  for 
the  prevention  and  suppression  of  forest  fires,  and  the  department  is 
authorized  to  spend  a sum  of  money  equal  in  amount  to  that  expended 
by  each  of  such  associations  for  the  employment  of  patrols  during  the 
forest  fire  season,  provided  that  such  expenditure  does  not  exceed  $30  a 
month  for  each  patrolman.  “When  any  group  of  landowners  desire  to 
organize  themselves  into  a mutual  forest  fire  protective  association  they 
shall  promptly  notify  the  Commissioner  of  Forestry  of  their  intent,  if  it 
be  the  desire  of  such  landowners  to  receive  such  cooperation  from  him." 


FOREST  FIRES  IX  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


55 

It  is  presumed  that  the  regular  appropriation  for  forest  protection  must 
he  drawn  upon  for  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Pennsylvania  owns  nearly  1,000,000  acres  of  State  forests  and  spends 
each  year  a large  amount  of  money  for  their  administration.  Fire  pro- 
tection on  these  lands  is  fairly  efficient.  The  State  forest  employees  are 
empowered  to  assist  in  fighting  fires  on  private  lands  in  the  same  locali- 
ties. 

Summary. — The  Commissioner  of  Forestry  in  his  last  report  says  in 
regard  to  the  workings  of  the  Pennsylvania  law : 

“At  the  present  the  part  of  the  act  which  provides  that  during  the  spring 
and  fall  tire  season  each  year  wardens  may  be  put  on  daily  patrol,  for  which 
they  are  to  receive  a compensation  of  $25.  is  wholly  inoperative,  because  no 
appropriation  has  been  made  by  the  Legislature  to  meet  these  provisions. 
The  amount  of  the  appropriation  which  the  act  was  finally  permitted  to  carry 
is  inadequate.  If  fires  are  as  had  in  the  next  three  fire  seasons  as  they  have 
been  in  the  past,  the  $50,000  will  scarcely  last  out  the  first  year.” 

NEW  JERSEY. 

Hew  Jersey,  which  is  somewhat  the  shape  and  approximately  one- 
sixth  the  size  of  Worth  Carolina,  and  has  in  many  respects  quite  similar 
forest  conditions,  contains  an  estimated  forest  area  of  2,000,000  acres, 
1,700,000  of  which  is  now  covered  by  the  present  system  of  fire  pro- 
tection. 

Organization. — The  fire  protective  organization  is  in  charge  of  a State 
Fire  Warden,  who  is  responsible  to  the  State  Forester.  Both  of  these 
officials  are  men  of  technical  training  and  experience.  The  State  For- 
ester is  appointed  by  and  responsible  to  the  State  Forest  Park  Reserva- 
tion Commission.  This  commission  consists  of  the  Governor,  who  is 
ex  officio  president,  the  State  Geologist,  who  is  termed  the  executive 
officer,  and  three  citizens  appointed  by  the  Governor  with  the  consent 
of  the  Senate.  ■ 

Fire  Wardens. — The  State  is  divided  into  four  divisions,  each  of  which 
is  in  charge  of  a division  fire  warden.  The  township  committee  or  gov- 
erning body  of  every  township,  upon  being  notified  by  the  commission,  is 
required  to  appoint  some  suitable  person  to  act  as  township  fire  warden 
for  the  entire  township,  or  for  such  part  of  it  as  the  commission  shall 
determine,  for  a term  of  one  year  or  until  his  successor  shall  have  been 
appointed.  Township  fire  wardens,  when  required  to  do  so  by  the  State 
Fire  Warden,  must  divide  their  townships  into  two  or  more  districts  and 
appoint  district  fire  wardens  for  each:  Provided,  that  no  district  fire 
warden  shall  be  appointed  for  the  district  in  which  the  township  fire 
warden  lives. 


56 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


Powers  and  Duties  of  Fire  Wardens. — The  section  of  the  law  dealing 
with  the  duties  of  fire  wardens  reads  in  part  as  follows : 

“Township  and  district  fire  wardens  shall  enforce  all  statutes  of  this  State 
now  in  force  or  that  may  hereafter  be  enacted  for  the  protection  of  forest 
and  timber  land  from  fire,  and  shall  carry  out  the  directions  of  the  State  Fire 
Warden  or  division  fire  wardens  regarding  the  prevention  and  extinguishing 
of  forest  fires.  They  shall  have  control  and  direction  of  all  persons  and  ap- 
paratus engaged  in  extinguishing  forest  fires.  They  may  plow  land,  or,  in  an 
emergency,  set  back-fires  to  check  any  fire.  They  may  summon  any  male 
person  between  the  ages  of  18  years  and  50  years  who  may  live  or  be  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  such  fire  wardens  to  assist  in  extinguishing  fires,  and  may 
also  require  the  use  of  horses  and  other  property  needed  for  such  purpose. 
Any  person  so  summoned,  who  is  physically  able,  who  refuses  or  neglects  to 
assist,  or  to  allow  the  use  of  horses,  wagons,  or  other  material  required, 
shall  be  liable  to  a penalty  of  $10.  When  a serious  fire  occurs  the  State  Fire 
Warden  or  any  division  fire  warden  may  summon  to  his  aid  fire  wardens 
from  surrounding  townships  with  their  assistants,  and  in  such  case  the  State 
shall  bear  the  whole  expense  of  paying  the  fire  wardens  and  assistants  who 
reside  in  townships  which  were  not  threatened.  In  every  other  case  in  which 
a fire  is  fought  by  men  from  two  or  more  townships  the  cost  shall  be  appor- 
tioned by  the  State  Fire  Warden  among  the  townships  in  which  the  fire 
burned,  or  which  were  directly  threatened.” 

If  any  township  shall  fail  to  appoint  the  fire  wardens  when  directed 
by  the  forest  commission  to  do  so,  or  shall  fail  to  make  an  appropriation 
sufficient  to  pay  its  share  of  the  fire  wardens’  salary  and  bills  incurred  in 
fighting  fires,  assistance  may  be  summoned  by  any  fire  warden,  and  per- 
sons so  summoned  shall  he  paid  by  the  State. 

Pay  of  Wardens. — The  pay  of  fire  wardens  is  regulated  by  law  as 
follows : 

“Each  township  fire  warden  shall  be  paid  at  the  rate  of  $20  a year,  and 
each  district  fire  warden  at  the  rate  of  $10  a year.  Said  sum  shall  be  in  lieu 
of  all  allowances  for  making  reports,  for  postage,  for  posting  fire-warning 
notices,  and  for  issuing  permits.  For  special  services  in  investigating  fires, 
and  the  causes  thereof,  and  for  all  time  in  actual  fire  fighting,  fire  wardens 
and  their  helpers  shall  be  paid  at  the  following  rates : 

“Fire  wardens,  while  engaged  in  fighting  fires,  $2  for  five  hours  or  less, 
and  30  cents  per  hour  thereafter. 

“Fire  wardens,  while  otherwise  employed,  25  cents  per  hour. 

“Helpers,  fighting  fire,  $1  for  five  hours  or  less,  and  20  cents  per  hour  for 
more  than  five  hours. 

“Helpers,  on  patrol  or  employed  otherwise  than  fighting  fire,  20  cents  per 
hour.” 

Permits  for  Burning  Brush. — Under  the  law  permits  are  required  to 
be  obtained  from  the  fire  wardens  before  brush  and  other  rubbish  can  be 
burnt  by  private  citizens,  unless  the  burning  is  to  be  in  a “public  road. 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


57 


garden,  or  plowed  field  at  a distance  of  not  less  than  200  feet  from  any 
woodland,  brushland,  or  field  containing  dry  grass  or  other  inflammable 
material.” 

Fires  Must  Be  Watclied. — Tbe  law  which  would  be  of  the  greatest 
assistance  in  ISTorth  Carolina  requires  that  “all  persons  who  shall  burn 
any  pit  of  charcoal,  or  set  fire  to  or  burn  any  brush,  grass,  or  other 
material  whereby  any  property  may  be  endangered  or  destroyed,  shall 
keep  and  maintain  a careful  and  competent  watchman  in  charge  of  said 
pit,  brush,  or  other  material  while  burning.” 

Fire  wardens,  among  other  things,  are  required  to  post  notices  con- 
cerning forest  fires,  and  a penalty  is  inflicted  for  tearing  down  such 
notices.  Fire  wardens  may  arrest  without  warrant  any  person  found 
violating  the  forest  laws. 

Appropriation. — The  State  appropriation  in  1912  for  the  support  of 
the  Forest  Fire  Service  was  $15,000,  while  the  townships  contributed 
for  fire  wardens’  salaries  and  expenses  something  over  $3,000.  This 
sum  enabled  the  State  to  maintain,  in  addition  to  the  State  Fire  Warden, 
a force  of  four  division  fire  wardens,  110  township  fire  wardens,  151 
district  fire  wardens,  and  3 fire  watchers.  In  addition  to  this  force, 
through  cooperation  with  the  United  States  Forest  Service,  a number 
of  patrols  are  kept  in  the  field  throughout  the  dangerous  season. 

Lookouts. — At  present  Hew  Jersey  has  done  little  in  the  establishment 
of  lookouts,  chiefly  because  telephonic  communication  is  lacking  in  the 
remote  forestry  districts.  With  the  increase  in  the  number  of  telephones, 
however,  the  Forestry  Commission  plans  to  create  a number  of  lookout 
stations,  which,  they  are  convinced,  will  insure  much  fuller  protection. 

Law  Enforcement. — The  commission  lays  great  stress  upon  the  value 
of  strictly  enforcing  the  laws.  The  State  Forester  reports  that  of  the 
545  fires  reported  in  1912,  252  are  known  to  have  been  violations  of  the 
law.  Of  this  large  number,  nearly  half  have  been  disposed  of  within  the 
year,  fines  of  various  amounts  having  been  inflicted  in  most  cases. 

“Tlie  only  way  we  have  found  to  cope  with  the  problem  is  by  endeavoring 
to  penalize  the  people  who  start  the  fires.  We  put  particular  emphasis  on 
getting  the  offender.  If  we  can  make  a man  pay  a fine  for  starting  a small 
fire,  and  the  fact  gets  into  the  newspapers,  it  makes  an  impression  on  the 
people  who  frequent  or  use  the  forest.  I believe  we  have  done  the  greatest 
part  of  our  educational  work  by  making  it  expensive  to  start  fires.”* 

Railroad  Fire  Lines. — In  1909  the  Legislature  of 'Hew  Jersey  passed 
a law  requiring  all  railroads  to  build  fire  lines  along  their  rights  of  way 
through  woodlands.  These  fire  lines  were  to  be  made  by  cleaning  up 


*Forest  Fire  Protection  by  tbe  States,  by  J.  G.  Peters,  U.  S.  Forest  Service,  1914,  p.  18. 


58 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  WORTH  CAROLINA. 


and  plowing  a stretch.  10  feet  wide  at  a distance  not  less  than  100  feet 
nor  more  than  200  feet  from  the  track  and  keeping  it  clear  of  combusti- 
ble material.  The  ground  between  the  fire  line  and  the  track  to  be 
burned  off  or  otherwise  cleared  of  brush,  grass,  leaves,  and  dead  wood. 

A provision  was  inserted  whereby  objections  of  owners  of  property 
to  the  railroad  constructing  such  fire  lines  ivould  be  considered  by  the 
Forest  Park  Reservation  Commission,  which  commission  would  endeavor 
by  peaceful  means  to  overcome  the  difficulty  and  effect  a satisfactory 
compromise.  The  weakness  of  this  law,  however,  is  in  the  fact  that 
nothing  can  compel  the  owner  to  allow  the  construction  of  these  fire 
lines,  and,  therefore,  weak  places  occur  at  intervals  along  the  lines. 
Railroads  were  not  required  to  construct  these  fire  lines  all  at  once,  but 
not  exceeding  one-fifth  of  their  distance  was  to  he  completed  each  year, 
as  determined  by  the  Forestry  Commission.  Several  of  the  principal 
railroads  complied  with  the  provision  of  this  law  and  constructed  many 
miles  of  fire  line.  Some  of  the  railroads,  however,  fought  the  law,  and 
it  was  finally  declared  unconstitutional.  The  fire  lines,  however,  suc- 
ceeded so  well  in  preventing  fires  along  the  tracks  that  some  of  the  roads 
still  continue  to  construct  and  maintain  them  with  good  results. 

The  following  comment  by  the  State  Forester  on  the  local  workings 
of  the  organization  which  appears  in  the  publication  of  the  United 
States  Forest  Service  quoted  above  will  be  of  interest: 

“The  State  organization  in  north  Jersey  consists  of  a division  fire  warden 
as  an  assistant  to  the  State  Fire  Warden  and  a township  warden  in  each 
township  where  there  is  any  appreciable  amount  of  woodland,  in  addition  to 
enough  district  wardens  to  adequately  control  the  area.  The  aim  is  to  assign 
a warden  to  each  5,000  acres  of  land.  This  force  is  composed  of  local  men. 
who  receive  a small  annual  fee  of  $10  or  $20  besides  the  money  paid  them  for 
actually  fighting  fires.  It  is,  therefore,  a good  deal  of  a voluntary  service. 
These  men.  as  soon  as  they  hear  of  a fire,  get  together  enough  men  to  take 
care  of  it.  They  have  authority  to  require  assistance.” 

The  Forester  is  confident  tbat  as  soon  as  telephonic  communication  is 
extended  to  the  forest!  area  a lookout  system  can  be  installed  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  State  which  will  cover  the  territory  very  satisfac- 
torily, leaving  the  actual  fire  fighting  and  what  little  control  is  necessary 
to  the  local  wardens. 

DELAWARE. 

Practically  all  the  land  in  Delaware  is  adaptable  to  farming,  and  most 
of  the  forest  is  in  the  form  of  woodlots.  For  this  reason  fires  are  not 
common  and  may  be  easily  prevented.  Throughout  the  southern  half 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


59 


of  the  State,  however,  more  than  one-third  of  the  area  is  wooded,  and  it 
is  estimated  that  27  per  cent  of  the  whole  State  is  still  in  woods. 

In  1909,  as  a result  of  a forest  survey  of  the  State  made  the  year 
before,  a fairly  good  forestry  law  was  enacted.  It  has,  however,  been 
practically  inoperative,  because  no  appropriation  was  made  by  the 
Legislature  for  its  enforcement. 

Organization. — The  State  Board  of  Forestry  consists  of  five  members: 
the  Governor,  Secretary  of  State,  President  of  the  State  Board  of  Agri- 
culture, Director  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  and  the  For- 
ester of  the  College.  This  latter  official  is  ex  officio  State  Forester,  but 
as  there  is  no  Forester  of  the  College,  the  Director  of  the  Agricultural 
Experiment  Station  acts  in  the  capacity  of  forester.  It  is  said  that  only 
when  the  State  employs  a competent  and  technically  trained  forester 
whose  sole  duty  it  is  to  improve  the  forest  conditions  of  the  State  will 
anything  much  along  these  lines  he  done. 

Wardens. — The  State  Forester  may,  whenever  he  thinks  it  necessary, 
request  the  Governor  to  appoint  certain  men  as  forest  wardens.  These 
wardens  are  to  receive  no  salary  from  the  State,  but  only  such  compen- 
sation as  the  forester  may  allow  them  for  special  services  actually  ren- 
dered. The  expenses  incurred  in  fighting  or  extinguishing  fire  are  to  he 
borne  by  the  county  in  which  the  fire  occurs  after  the  accounts  have 
been  approved  hv  the  State  Forester. 

Spark  Arresters. — Logging  and  railroad  locomotives,  donkey  or  thresh- 
ing engines,  traction  engines  and  other  engines  and  boilers  operated  in, 
through,  or  near  forests  or  brush,  which  do  not  burn  oil  or  naphtha  as 
fuel  must  be  provided  with  appliances  to  prevent  the  escape  of  fire  and 
sparks  from  smokestacks,  ash-pans,  and  fire  boxes. 

Civil  Liability. — An  individual  or  corporation  causing  fires  shall  he 
liable  to  the  State  or  to  the  county  in  which  the  fire  occurs  in  an  action 
for  debt  to  the  full  amount  of  all  expenses  incurred  by  the  State  or 
county  in  fighting  and  extinguishing  such  fires. 

OHIO. 

Ohio  has  a Department  of  Forestry  under  the  control  of  the  Ohio 
Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  and  a forester  appointed  by  that  sta- 
tion. It  has  no  fire  protective  system  and  very  few  fire  laws. 

“A  section  of  the  General  Code  of  Ohio  authorizes  township  trustees  to  call 
on  the  inhabitants  of  the  township  to  assist  in  extinguishing  forest  or  prairie 
tires ; but  this  method  is  entirely  inadequate,  as  a tire  is  likely  to  have  caused 
great  damage  before  the  machinery  for  its  control  can  be  put  in  operation. 
Some  provision  should  be  made  for  a systematic  patrol  of  the  regions  liable  to 


60 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


forest  fires  during  the  small  part  of  the  year  when  there  is  danger  from  such 
fires.  The  necessary  cost  of  such  patrol  would  be  far  less  than  the  present 
annual  loss  from  fires.”* 

INDIANA. 

Indiana  is  essentially  an  agricultural  State,  and  only  17  per  cent  of 
its  area,  or  4,000,000  acres,  are  in  woods,  nearly  all  of  this  being  in  the 
form  of  farmers’  woodlots. 

Board  of  Forestry. — There  is  a State  Board  of  Forestry  composed  of 
five  members,  including  the  secretary.  The  latter  official  is  paid  a 
salary  of  $1,800  a year  and  expenses.  Practically  the  whole  amount  of 
the  appropriation  of  $7,000  is  spent  for  general  and  office  expenses  and 
for  administering  a small  State  forest  reservation. 

Fire  Protection. — The  only  forest  fire  laws  are  (1)  a law  which  for- 
bids persons  setting  fire  to  the  woods  of  another,  (2)  one  which  pre- 
scribes a heavy  fine  or  imprisonment  for  setting  fire  to  woods,  marsh,  or 
prairie  maliciously  or  wantonly,  and  (3)  one  which  makes  it  the  duty 
of  the  township  road  supervisor  to  summon  help  and  extinguish  any 
fire  which  may  occur  in  his  district,  the  costs  to  be  paid  by  the  township. 

PRAIRIE  STATES. 

The  six  prairie  States,  namely,  Illinois,  Kansas,  Nebraska,  Iowa, 
North  and  South  Dakota,  contain  little  or  no  forest  land;  and,  with  the 
exception  of  South  Dakota,  those  States  which  have  any  forest  policy 
have  confined  their  efforts  almost  entirely  to  the  encouragement  of  tree 
planting.  Practically  all  of  these  States  have  at  one  time  or  another 
passed  laws  calculated  to  induce  private  individuals  to  plant  woodlots, 
etc.,  usually  with  only  indifferent  results.  Kansas  now  has  a State  For- 
ester; most  of  his  time,  however,  is  devoted  to  teaching  forestry  in  the 
State  Agricultural  College. 

SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

Outside  the  National  and  State  forests  there  is  little  woodland  in 
South  Dakota.  At  the  present  time  the  Federal  Government  controls 
about  1,200,000  acres  and  the  State  forests  amount  to  about  60,000  acres 
more.  Some  300,000  acres  of  farmers’  woodlots  are  also  reported.  The 
forest  administration  deals  almost  entirely  with  State  lands. 

Administration. — The  direction,  management,  and  control  of  all  State 
lands  is  in  the  hands  of  the  Board  of  School  and  Public  Lands.  Among 
the  duties  of  this  board  is  the  appointment  when  necessary  of  a forest 

* * Fourth  Annual  Report  of  Forest  Conditions  in  Ohio. 


FOREST  FIRES  IN'  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


61 


supervisor,  who  shall  have  administrative  powers,  with  authority  to 
employ  needed  assistance  in  case  of  forest  fire  on  or  near  any  lands 
owned  by  the  State.  This  official,  who  is  called  State  Forester,  was 
appointed  in  1913,  when  a special  appropriation  of  $3,000  a year  for 
fire  protection  became  available. 

Fire  Laws. — There  are  laws  against  willfully  or  negligently  setting 
fires,  and  declaring  a closed  season  in  which  no  fires  must  be  set  in  woods, 
marsh,  prairie,  grass  or  stubble  lands.  Any  fire  set  must  be  kept  in  con- 
trol and  extinguished  the  same  day  on  which  it  is  set. 

Railroads. — Railroads  are  permitted  to  enter  upon  private  or  State 
lands  to  construct  fire  guards  along  their  lines. 

Comment. — A comprehensive  fire  plan  was  inaugurated  July  1,  1913. 
Several  miles  of  telephone  line  were  built  and  put  into  operation,  and  a 
lookout  station  established  and  equipped.  This  lookout  has  direct  tele- 
phonic communication  with  the  district  ranger,  with  State  forest  head- 
quarters, and  with  the  nearest  lookout  on  the  National  forest.  Last  year 
the  State  Forest  Service  was  able,  along  with  its  other  activities,  to  effect 
necessary  fire  patrol  up  to  September  15th,  when  the  money  available 
was  exhausted.  The  timely  assistance  of  the  Federal  Government,  how- 
ever, under  the  provisions  of  the  Weeks  law,  allowed  for  effective  patrol 
till  the  end  of  the  fire  season. 

SOUTHWESTERN  STATES. 

The  Southwestern  States  have  little  forest  land  except  in  the  moun- 
tains, and  the  greater  part  of  this  in  most  of  these  States  is  included  in 
the  National  forests.  Consequently  it  is  adequately  protected  from  fire  by 
the  Federal  Government.  Only  two,  California  and  Colorado,  out  of  the 
six  Southwestern  States  have  any  State  fire  protective  system.  Utah  has 
a State  Conservation  Commission  with  a committee  on  State  forest  con- 
servation, but  no  further  State  forestry  organization.  In  Arizona,  New 
Mexico,  and  Nevada  there  is  little  timberland  in  private  ownership,  but 
the  States  themselves  own  a considerable  amount  of  forested  school  lands. 
As  most  of  these  are  included  within  the  outside  boundaries  of  the 
National  forests,  no  pressing  need  for  their  protection  by  the  State  has 
been  felt. 

CALIFORNIA. 

California  has  an  approximate  area  of  24,000,000  acres  of  forest  land, 
or  24  per  cent  of  its  area.  Of  this  amount,  14,000,000  acres  is  included 
in  National  forests  and  is  thoroughly  patrolled  by  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment. An  additional  1,500,000  acres  is  included  in  National  parks  and 


62 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


other  public  lands;  while  nearly  1,000,000  belongs  to  the  State.  The 
remaining  third  of  the  forest  area  is  owned  one  half  by  farmers  and  set- 
tlers and  the  other  half  by  lumber  companies.  The  forest  fire  laws  at 
present  are  quite  inadequate,  largely  because  the  appropriation  is  too 
small  to  carry  them  out  effectively. 

Organization. — There  is  a State  Board  of  Forestry  of  four  members, 
which  supervises  the  State  forestry  work  and  convenes  upon  the  call  of 
the  Governor  or  of  its  secretary.  The  State  Forester,  appointed  by  the 
Governor,  is  a civil  executive  officer  who  shall  be  a technically  trained 
forester  and  shall  receive  a salary  of  $2,400  a year  and  necessary  office 
and  contingent  expenses.  There  are  two  assistant  foresters  who  each 
receive  a salary  of  $1,200  a year  and  necessary  expenses. 

Fire  Wardens. — The  forester  shall  appoint  public-spirited  citizens  to 
act  as  volunteer  fire  wardens,  who  may  receive  payment  for  their  serv- 
ices from  the  counties  or  from  private  sources.  The  forester  and  fire 
wardens  shall  have  the  powers  of  arrest  without  warrant  for  violations 
of  the  State  or  Federal  forest  laws. 

Fire  Patrol. — In  times  and  localities  of  particular  fire  danger  the 
State  Forester  may  maintain  a fire  patrol  through  the  fire  wardens,  as 
the  public  interest  may  require,  the  expense  of  such  patrol  to  be  paid  by 
the  county.  He  may  also,  upon  request  of  counties,  corporations,  or 
individuals,  maintain  a fire  patrol  on  their  forest  lands,  provided  that 
the  expenses  be  paid  by  those  requesting  the  patrol. 

Liability  for  Forest  Fires. — Owners  whose  property  is  injured  or  de- 
stroyed by  fire  may  recover  in  civil  action  the  amount  of  the  damage 
suffered  if  the  fire  occurs  through  willfulness,  malice,  or  negligence.  In 
addition,  persons  or  corporations  causing  fires  or  violations  of  the  law 
shall  be  liable  for  all  expenses  incurred  by  the  State  or  county  in  fighting 
such  fires. 

Appropriation. — The  sum  of  $7,000  a year  is  provided  for  the  pay- 
ment of  all  salaries  and  expenses  and  for  carrying  out  the  other  pro- 
visions of  the  law. 

County  Cooperation. — Counties  are  allowed  by  law  to  appropriate 
from  the  general  funds  sums  not  to  exceed  from  $10,000  to  $20,000, 
according  to  the  size  of  the  county,  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  forestry 
work.  This  includes  the  preservation,  reforestation,  and  protection  from 
fire  of  forests  upon  public  lands. 

Spark  Arresters. — Persons  using  logging  locomotives,  donkey  or 
threshing  engines,  or  other  engines  or  boilers  in  or  near  forest,  brush,  or 
grass  land  must  provide  adequate  devices  to  prevent  the  escape  of  fire 
or  sparks  from  smokestacks,  ash-pans,  fire  boxes,  or  other  parts. 


FOREST  FIRES  IX  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


63 


COMMENT. 

“So  far  we  have  been  without  an  appropriation  for  forest  protection ; conse- 
quently the  State  Board  of  Forestry  has  been  prevented  from  organizing  fire 
patrols  and  taking  the  first  steps  necessary  to  establish  forestry  principles. 

“State  fire  wardens  serve  without  compensation  for  their  services  and  often 
incur  considerable  expense.  For  this  they  cannot  be  reimbursed  by  the  State, 
since  there  is  no  appropriation  for  this  purpose.  It  is  imperative  that  the 
State  make  an  appropriation  for  tire  protection  and  for  paying  the  necessary 
expenses  incurred  when  fires  do  occur.” 

COLORADO. 

Approximately  18  per  cent  of  the  area  of  Colorado,  or  about  12,000,- 
000  acres,  is  forested.  Of  tliis  amount,  about  8,000,000  acres  is  under 
tbe  control  of  tbe  Federal  Government,  while  approximately  4,000,000 
is  in  private  bands.  Tbe  State  itself  owns  some  600,000  acres  of  wood- 
land. 

Tbe  present  forest  law  was  passed  in  1911,  probably  with  tbe  object 
of  increasing  tbe  efficiency  of  tbe  then  existing  fire  prevention  forces. 
When  compared  with  tbe  laws  of  some  of  tbe  more  progressive  States, 
however,  tbe  Colorado  law  seems  very  inadequate,  as  it  leaves  tbe  for- 
estry work  in  so  many  different  bands.  This  defect  will  be  noticed  in 
tbe  following  brief  summary : 

State  Forester.— Tbe  State  Board  of  Agriculture  is  authorized  to 
appoint  tbe  State  Forester,  who  shall  be  a professor  of  forestry  in  tbe 
State  Agricultural  College,  and  shall  be  under  the  control  of  tbe  Board 
of  Agriculture.  His  salary  shall  not  exceed  $2,500  a year.  His  duties, 
amongst  others,  are  to  advise,  aid,  and  assist  the  Board  of  Land  Com- 
missioners in  preventing  and  extinguishing  fires  on  State  lands ; to  advise 
or  assist  individuals,  associations,  corporations,  etc.,  in  tbe  care  of  their 
forest  lands;  to  aid  and  assist  tbe  associations  of  tbe  various  counties  in 
extinguishing  fires;  to  investigate  fires  and  report  derelictions  of  duty 
on  tbe  part  of  any  officer  of  tbe  State  with  relation  to  fires  or  forests, 
and  to  prepare  notices  concerning  tbe  prevention  and  extinguishing  of 
forest  fires,  which  tbe  Commissioner  of  Game  and  Fisli  is  required  to 
post. 

Fire  Wardens. — Sheriffs  of  tbe  various  counties  of  tbe  State  are  to 
report  to  the  State  Forester  as  soon  as  practicable  tbe  occurrence  of  any 
fire  in  any  forests  in  the  State,  either  on  private  or  public  lands,  and 
shall  then  aid  and  assist  in  extinguishing  tbe  same. 

Deputies  appointed  by  tbe  sheriff  at  present  serve  in  tbe  forty-two 
counties  which  contain  forest  lands.  In  all  there  are  392  such  wardens. 


64 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


In  addition  to  these  deputy  sheriffs,  197  special  forest  fire  wardens 
have  been  commissioned  from  the  list  of  special  deputy  game  wardens 
after  several  conferences  with  the  State  Fish  and  Game  Commissioner. 

Appropriation. — For  carrying  this  act  into  effect  the  Legislature  ap- 
propriates $10,000  for  each  successive  biennial  period,  or  $5,000  a year. 

SOUTHERN  STATES. 

The  South  has  allowed  the  western  and  northern  States  to  outdistance 
it  in  the  matter  of  forest  protection.  It  is  only  within  the  last  few  years 
that  any  of  the  southern  States  have  even  talked  of  adopting  State  fire 
protection,  and  it  is  only  the  borderland  States  that  have  so  far  secured 
any  fire  protective  systems.  Maryland  was  the  leader  in  this  movement, 
and  has  continued  to  he  foremost  in  the  protection  of  her  forests.  Ken- 
tucky and  West  Virginia  now  also  have  State  fire  protection.  Worth 
Carolina  and  Virginia  have  State  foresters,  while  Tennessee  and  Ala- 
bama have  forest  laws;  but  all  four  are  still  without  forest  protection. 
Louisiana  will  no  doubt  have  an  excellent  system  as  soon  as  its  rather 
cumbrous  machinery  gets  into  working  order. 

The  remaining  southern  States  have  done  little  or  nothing  in  the  way 
of  forestry.  Forestry  laws  have  been  introduced  from  time  to  time  into 
the  legislatures  of  South  Carolina,  Florida,  Mississippi,  and  Missouri, 
but  have  failed  to  pass.  Georgia  has  a forester  connected  with  the  State 
Agricultural  College,  while  Arkansas  and  Oklahoma  have  apparently 
made  no  move  towards  any  form  of  forestry.  It  is  said  that  Texas  is 
contemplating  some  action  at  the  next  session  of  the  Legislature.  With 
its  40,000,000  acres  of  forest  land  definite  forest  protection  is  certainly 
needed. 

The  southern  States,  like  the  lake  States,  have  been  greatly  handi- 
capped in  their  efforts  to  secure  forest  protection  by  the  theory,  fostered 
by  many  large  landowners,  that  all  of  the  cut-over  lands  are  suitable  for 
agriculture.  The  greater  part  of  the  pine  lands  of  the  South  may  event- 
ually be  adapted  to  farm  use,  but  it  seems  certain  that  for  many  years 
to  come  there  will  be  little  demand  for  the  greater  part  of  it.  This 
should,  therefore,  be  adequately  protected  from  the  fire  and  allowed  to 
produce  a remunerative  crop  of  timber. 

MARYLAND. 

Maryland,  like  Worth  Carolina,  has  three  forest  regions,  the  Moun- 
tain, the  Piedmont,  and  the  Coastal  Plain  region.  Altogether,  Maryland 
has  approximately  2,000,000  acres  of  woodland,  most  of  which  is  greatly 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


65 


reduced  in  productiveness  by  repeated  forest  fires.  The  State  Forester 
says  that  the  forest  fire  question  is  the  most  important  forestry  problem 
in  Maryland. 

At  the  time  of  the  passage  of  the  forest  law  in  1905  the  Maryland  law 
was  considered  about  the  best  in  the  United  States.  Since  that  time, 
however,  several  States  have  secured  more  effective  laws. 

State  Board  of  Forestry. — “There  shall  be  a State  Board  of  Forestry,  con- 
sisting of  seven  members,  the  Governor.  Comptroller,  president  of  Johns 
Hopkins  University,  president  of  the  Maryland  State  Agricultural  College, 
State  Geologist,  and  one  citizen  of  the  State  known  to  be  interested  in  the 
advancement  of  forestry,  and  one  practical  lumberman  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  lumber  within  this  State,  who  shall  be  appointed  by  the  Governor, 
to  serve  for  a term  of  two  years,  which  board  shall  act  without  compensation, 
save  for  actual  necessary  expenses  incurred  in  the  performance  of  their  offi- 
cial duties.” 

State  Forester. — The  Board  of  Forestry  shall  appoint  a State  Forester 
who  shall  have  a practical  knowledge  of  forestry  and  shall  be  a trained 
forester.  His  compensation,  fixed  by  the  board,  shall  not  exceed  $2,000 
per  annum  and  reasonable  traveling  and  field  expenses.  He  shall  have 
charge  of  all  the  forest  interests  of  the  State,  shall  have  charge  of  and 
direct  the  forest  wardens,  take  necessary  action  to  prevent  and  extinguish 
forest  fires,  and  enforce  the  forest  fire  laws.  He  has  various  other  duties 
which  are  defined  in  the  law. 

Appropriation. — The  law  provides  an  annual  appropriation  of  $10,000 
for  the  work  under  the  Board  of  Forestry  and  an  additional  appropria- 
tion of  $6,000  for  the  publication  of  forest  reports  and  maps. 

Protective  System. — “Our  protective  system  consists  of  forest  wardens, 
forest  patrolmen,  and  lookout  watchmen.  The  wardens  are  commissioned  by 
the  Governor,  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  State  Forester,  the  law  limit- 
ing us  to  the  appointment  of  not  more  than  one  warden  for  each  15.000  acres  of 
woodlands  in  the  county.  The  wardens  receive  no  salary,  but  are  paid  for 
services  rendered,  half  by  the  State  and  half  by  the  county.  Since  under  our 
law  there  are  no  restrictions  in  the  appointment  of  the  wardens,  except  as  to 
number,  we  have  been  able  to  select  men  who  would  make  the  best  officers, 
most  of  them  actuated  by  a high  sense  of  public  duty.  The  chief  difficulty 
is  that  they  are  too  far  apart,  and  in  order  to  overcome  this  we  are  appoint- 
ing deputies  for  each  warden,  with  the  view  of  having  the  men  within  2 or  3 
miles  of  each  other. 

“The  patrolmen,  all  of  whom  are  Federal  employees,  are  regularly  commis- 
sioned forest  wardens,  assigned  to  patrol  duty.  They  are  usually  farmers 
who  know  everybody  in  the  community  and  who  understand  the  local  situa- 
tion thoroughly.  These  men  are  assigned  a territory  covering  from  85,000 
to  100,000  acres  each.  and.  as  far  as  possible,  they  travel  along  the  ridges, 
where  a good  view  of  the  surrounding  country  can  be  obtained.  They  are 


5 


66 


FOREST  FIRES  IN'  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


mounted  on  horses,  in  which  respect  our  system  appears  to  be  different  from 
that,  of  other  States.  The  patrolman  furnishes  his  horse  and  receives  $3  per 
diem  when  actually  employed,  and  his  patrol  is  limited  to  days  when  it  is 
dry  enough  for  fires  to  run  in  the  woods.  This  usually  amounts  to  from  50 
to  60  days  during  the  year.  By  paying  a dollar  a day  more  for  a mounted 
patrolman  than  for  one  on  foot  the  efficiency,  I believe,  is  at  least  doubled. 

“The  lookout  watchmen  aid  very  materially  in  the  tire  protection  plan. 
We  have  a number  of  lookout  stations  in  the  mountains.  Each  one  has  a 
telephone  connection  with  the  forest  wardens,  so  that  a forest  fire  is  quickly 
observed  and  reported  to  the  nearest  warden.  We  have  found  that  under 
this  system  the  tires  have  not  only  been  reduced  in  number,  but  the  average 
area  burned  over  by  each  fire  is  very  much  less  than  before  the  system  was 
inaugurated. 

“In  addition  to  the  regular  lookout  stations  there  are  a number  of  good 
observation  points  where  we  employ  men  living  near-by  to  make  three  obser- 
vations daily  during  the  dangerous  seasons,  for  which  they  are  paid  50  cents 
a day.  We  find  that  this  arrangement  works  very  well  and  saves  the  expense 
of  a regular  station  where  we  would  not  be  justified  in  having  an  all-day 
lookout.”* 

Spark  Arresters. — Railroad  and  logging  locomotives,  donkey  or  thresh- 
ing engines,  and  other  engines  and  boilers  which  do  not  burn  oil  as  fuel 
must  be  provided  with  appliances  to  prevent  the  escape  of  fire  and  sparks 
from  the  smokestacks  and  to  prevent  the  escape  of  fire  from  ash-pans  and 
fire  boxes. 

Stock  Law. — One  mountain  county  in  Maryland  still  allows  live  stock 
to  run  in  the  open  woods.  As  a result  of  this  practice  fires  have  been 
set  intentionally  to  burn  off  the  young  forest  growth  in  order  to  improve 
the  range  for  cattle  and  sheep.  In  one  month  twenty-nine  fires  occurred 
in  this  county,  eleven  of  which  were  definitely  known  to  have  been  set 
for  this  purpose.  The  fire  warden  system  was  unable  to  cope  with  the 
situation,  and  55,000  acres  were  burned  over  in  this  county  in  May. 
The  State  Forester  says : 

“Any  law  which  will  encourage  the  burning  of  30.000  acres  of  woodland, 
causing  a loss  of  over  $100,000.  for  a few  hundred  dollars  worth  of  free 
grazing  has  certainly  outlived  its  usefulness  and  should  be  repealed.” 

North  Carolina  confronts  this  same  problem  in  a number  of  counties, 
both  in  the  western  and  eastern  parts  of  the  State.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
she  may  soon  do  away  with  the  menace  of  the  open  range. 

AVEST  VIRGINIA. 

West  Virginia,  Avhich  has  an  area  of  a little  0A*er  15,000,000  acres,  or 
approximately  one-half  the  area  of  X orth  Carolina,  contains  about 

’’■‘Forest  Fire  Protection  by  tlie  States,  by  J.  G.  Peters,  U.  S.  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture. 


FOREST  FIEES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


67 


11,000,000  acres  of  forest  land,  the  greater  part  of  winch,  has  been  cut 
over  and  much  of  it  very  badly  burned. 

A law  passed  in  1909  provided  for  a Forest,  Game  and  Fish  Warden, 
and  subordinated  fire  protection  to  the  protection  of  game.  As  only  a 
very  small  appropriation  was  allowed  for  the  carrying  out  of  this  law. 
little  effective  work  could  be  accomplished. 

Protective  System. — Under  this  law  the  State  Forest,  Game  and  Fish 
Warden  was  made  ex  officio  fire  warden  of  the  State,  and  all  deputy 
game  wardens  were  made  deputy  fire  wardens  for  their  respective  coun- 
ties. These  wardens,  in  addition  to  their  duties  in  protecting  game,  were 
required  to  extinguish  any  forest  fires  which  were  brought  to  their  notice, 
and  were  empowered  to  hire  volunteers  or  summon  assistance  to  extin- 
guish fires. 

Deputy  wardens  receive  $2  per  day  for  the  time  actually  employed  at 
forest  fires,  and  the  various  counties  are  empowered  to  fix  the  price  paid 
to  laborers  at  forest  fires  not  to  exceed  $2  per  day  for  services  actually 
rendered.  All  services  rendered  at  forest  fires,  both  by  deputy  wardens 
and  their  assistants,  are  charged  against  the  county,  and  the  county  court 
is  required  to  pay  such  cost  out  of  the  county  funds. 

Piecovery  of  Expenses. — The  warden  of  any  county  in  which  has 
occurred  a forest  fire  which  has  been  extinguished  by  his  efforts  can 
recover  from  those  causing  the  fire  to  the  amount  expended  in  extinguish- 
ing the  fire,  together  with  the  costs  of  said  recovery.  This,  however, 
shall  not  act  as  a bar  to  the  recovery  of  damages  by  those  injured  by 
the  fire. 

This  laiv  has  been  greatly  hampered  in  its  execution  by  the  county 
court  refusing  to  allow  claims  for  extinguishing  fires  or  by  fixing  the 
per  diem  so  low  that  it  was  very  hard  to  get  men  to  help  fight  fires. 

Bailroads. — Railroads  passing  through  forest  lands  are  required  to 
move  from  their  rights  of  way  twice  a year  all  grass,  brush,  and  other 
inflammable  materials.  In  seasons  of  drought  they  must  employ  suffi- 
cient trackmen  to  promptly  extinguish  fires  on  their  rights  of  way. 
They  must  also  provide  locomotives  with  spark  arresters  and  devices  to 
prevent  the  escape  of  fire  from  ash-pans  and  furnaces.  They  are  for- 
bidden to  deposit  live  coals  on  their  track  or  rights  of  way  near  forest 
lands,  are  required  to  extinguish  fires  on  or  near  their  rights  of  way,  and 
trainmen  are  required  to  report  fires  at  the  first  station  to  which  they 
come. 

Appropriation. — Under  the  law  of  1909  there  was  no  appropriation 
which  could  be  used  for  fire  prevention.  In  1913,  however,  the  Legis- 
lature appropriated  $25,000  for  two  years  for  the  use  of  the  forest, 


68 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


game,  and  fish  warden  in  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  the  earlier  law. 
Two-fifths  of  this  is  to  be  used  for  special  fire  preventive  measures. 

With  the  $5,000  a year  for  the  next  two  years  the  Governor  has 
decided  to  establish  a State  fire  protective  system.  “Five  lookout  sta- 
tions are  to  he  erected  at  once  (October,  1913)  and  properly  equipped 
with  field  glasses  and  fire-fighting  equipment.  Telephone  connections 
will  be  made  with  these  stations  from  all  the  surrounding  country  and 
watchmen  stationed  there  during  all  the  dangerous  season  to  give  an 
alarm  in  case  of  the  discovery  of  fire.  This  system  will  be  extended 
throughout  all  of  the  forest  area  of  the  State  as  rapidly  as  proper 
cooperation  with  timber  owners  and  organizations  can  he  effected  and 
Federal  cooperation  secured.”* 

Comment. — A more  comprehensive  law  was  introduced  into  the  Legis- 
lature in  1913,  providing  for  a special  Forest  Department,  State  For- 
ester, a protective  system,  and  a special  appropriation.  This  bill  was 
backed  by  the  forest,  game,  and  fish  warden,  but  it  failed  of  passage, 
owing  to  lack  of  time  to  consider  it,  due  to  a senatorial  deadlock. 

KENTUCKY. 

Kentucky  has  approximately  10,000,000  acres  of  forest  land  or  about 
40  per  cent  of  the  total  area  of  the  State.  Like  Korth  Carolina,  there 
are  three  physiographic  regions,  the  eastern  or  Mountain  region,  the 
central  or  Blue-grass  region,  and  the  western  or  Yalley  region.  The  per- 
manent forests  are  in  the  mountains,  which  are  perhaps  rougher,  though 
not  so  high  as  ours  in  Korth  Carolina.  As  the  larger  part  of  the  land 
in  these  mountains  is  better  adapted  for  growing  timber  than  for  any 
other  purpose,  the  necessity  for  protecting  the  forests  from  fires  is  ob- 
vious. Until  recently,  however,  Kentucky  has  made  no  appropriation 
for  fire  protection. 

In  1912,  largely  through  the  persistent  efforts  of  the  State  Federation 
of  Women’s  Clubs,  a first-class  forestry  law  was  enacted  and  a State 
Forester  appointed.  Since  that  time  a fire  protective  system  has  been 
formed  and  one  or  more  local  clubs  organized  to  cooperate  with  the 
State  in  fire  protection.  Kentucky  is  now  perhaps,  with  the  exception 
of  Maryland,  the  foremost  amongst  the  southern  States  in  the  protection 
of  her  forests  from  fire. 

State  Board  of  Forestry. — The  new  law  established  a State  Board  of 
Forestry,  consisting  of  six  members,  namely,  the  Governor,  Director  of 
the  State  Experiment  Station,  Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  all  of  whom 
are  ex  officio  members,  and  three  persons  to  be  appointed  by  the  Gov- 

* American  Forestry,  Vol.  XIX,  p.  74S. 


FOREST  FIRES  IN'  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


69 


ernor  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate.  The  members  of  the 
board  shall  receive  no  salary,  but  shall  be  paid  necessary  expenses  in- 
curred in  attending  meetings. 

State  Forester. — The  State  Forester  shall  be  appointed  by  the  board 
and  he  shall  be  a graduate  of  a school  of  forestry,  a technically  trained 
forester  with  both  practical  and  theoretical  knowledge  of  forestry. 
Among  other  duties,  the  State  Forester  is  secretary  of  the  Forestry  Com- 
mission. lie  is  given  supervision  and  direction  of  all  forest  interests 
within  the  State  and  “he  shall  have  charge  over  all  forest  wardens  who 
may  be  appointed  by  the  State  Board.  He  shall  take  such  action  as  is 
authorized  by  law  to  prevent  and  extinguish  forest  fires,  enforce  the  laws 
pertaining  to  forests  and  woodland,  prosecute  any  violation  of  such  laws, 
etc.”  His  salary  is  fixed  by  the  Forestry  Board  and  must  not  exceed 
$2,500  a year  and  reasonable  expenses. 

Fire  Wardens. — “Whenever  the  State  Board  of  Forestry  considers  it 
necessary,  it  may  apply  to  the  Governor  to  commission  such  persons  as 
it  may  designate  to  act  as  forest  wardens.”  These  wardens  shall  receive 
not  to  exceed  $2  per  day  for  services  actually  rendered.  Their  duties 
are  to  protect  the  State  forest  reserves ; to  report  violations  of  the  law, 
and  assist  in  apprehending  and  convicting  offenders ; to  extinguish  fires, 
and  employ  persons  to  assist  as  they  may  deem  expedient.  Ho  provision 
is  made  for  patrols  or  lookouts,  which  seriously  reduces  the  effectiveness 
of  the  system. 

Appropriation. — The  sum  of  $15,000  per  annum  is  appropriated  for 
the  use  of  the  State  Board  of  Forestry  in  carrying  out  the  provisions  of 
the  forestry  law.  Only  a small  part  of  this,  however,  can  be  used  for 
fire  protection,  as  the  law  also  provides  for  the  purchase  and  adminis- 
tration of  lands  for  State  forests. 

Spark  Arresters.- — “Logging  and  railroad  locomotives,  donkey  or 
threshing  engines,  and  other  engines  and  boilers  operated  in,  through, 
or  near  forest  and  brush,  which  do  not  burn  oil  as  fuel,”  must  be  pro- 
vided with  spark  arresters  and  devices  to  prevent  the  escape  of  fire  from 
ash-pans  and  fire  boxes. 

Comment. — At  the  end  of  the  1913  fire  season  the  State  Forester  re- 
ported that  the  county  fire  wardens  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State  had 
been  kept  busy  fighting  fires.  The  efficiency  of  the  work  of  the  wardens 
has  been  thoroughly  demonstrated. 

VIRGINIA. 

Virginia  has  a productive  forest  area  of  about  15,000,000  acres,  or 
about  58  per  cent  of  its  total  area,  which  is  a somewhat  less  proportion 


70 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


of  woodland  than  we  have  in  North  Carolina.  The  same  three  forest 
regions,  the  Mountain,  Piedmont,  and  Coastal  Plain,  that  we  have  here, 
occur  there.  A considerably  larger  proportion  of  the  forest,  however,  is 
in  the  form  of  farmers’  woodlots.  Until  recently  little  forestry  work 
has  been  done  by  this  State,  and  the  laws  have  only  been  the  usual  ones 
against  setting  fire  to  the  woods  and  the  not  so  usual  one  requiring  steam 
engines  to  use  spark  arresters. 

In  March,  1914,  however,  a comprehensive  law  was  passed  which 
when  made  effective  by  an  appropriation  will  place  Virginia  in  the 
front  rank  of  the  southern  States  which  exercise  forest  protection. 

State  Forester. — The  office  of  State  Forester  is  created  under  the 
direction  and  control  of  the  State  Geological  Commission,  which  is  com- 
posed of  the  Governor,  President  of  the  University  of  Virginia,  President 
of  the  Virginia  Polytechnic  Institute,  Superintendent  of  the  Virginia 
Military  Institute,  and  one  citizen  from  the  State  at  large  appointed  by 
the  Governor.  The  Forester  is  to  he  appointed  by  this  commission.  He 
must  he  a technically  trained  forester  who  has  both  a practical  and  theo- 
retical knowledge  of  forestry.  Besides  the  c-are  and  management  of  the 
State  forest  reservation  and  State  nurseries,  which  are  provided  for  in 
the  bill,  he  shall  have  charge  of  all  forest  wardens  and  shall  take  neces- 
sary action  to  prevent  and  extinguish  forest  fires.  His  salary  shall  not 
exceed  $2,000  per  year,  together  with  reasonable  traveling  and  field 
expenses. 

Wardens. — The  State  Geological  Commission  may  apply  to  the  Gov- 
ernor to  commission  certain  persons  to  act  as  State  forest  wardens. 
These  wardens  receive  no  salary,  but  shall  he  paid  by  the  State  for  serv- 
ices actually  rendered,  not  exceeding  $2  per  day.  It  is  the  duty  of  the 
forest  warden  to  extinguish  forest  fires  and  to  summon  necessary  help 
for  this  purpose. 

County  Protection. — The  hoards  of  county  supervisors  are  authorized 
by  this  bill  to  levy  and  appropriate  money  for  purposes  of  forest  pro- 
tection, improvement,  and  management.  “The  State  hoards  shall  have 
recourse  under  an  action  at  law  for  debt  against  any  landowner,  indi- 
vidual, or  corporation  on  whose  account  they  shall  be  obliged  to  pay  out 
money  for  fighting  fire  for  the  amount  which  they  shall  have  expended 
for  such  purpose.” 

Spark  Arresters. — “Logging  and  railroad  locomotives,  donkey  or 
threshing  engines,  and  other  engines  and  boilers  operated  in,  through, 
or  near  forest  or  brush,  which  do  not  burn  oil  as  fuel,  shall  be  provided 
with  appliances  to  prevent,  as  far  as  may  he  possible,  the  escape  of  fire 
and  sparks  from  the  smokestacks  thereof,  and  with  devices  to  prevent. 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


71 


as  far  as  may  be  possible,  tlie  escape  of  fire  from  ash-pans  and  fire  boxes. 

Forest  Reserve  Fund. — “All  money  received  as  penalties  for  violations 
of  the  provisions  of  this  act,  less  the  cost  of  collection  and  not  otherwise 
provided  for,  together  with  any  amount  obtained  from  the  State  forestry 
reserves,  shall  be  paid  into  the  State  Treasury  to  the  credit  of  the  forest 
reserve  fund,  which  fund  is  hereby  created ; and  the  moneys  in  said  fund 
are  hereby  appropriated  for  purposes  of  forest  protection,  management, 
replacement,  and  extension,  under  the  direction  of  the  commission.” 

Appropriation. — This  bill  was  passed  so  late  in  the  session  that  no 
appropriation  was  carried  through  with  it.  A provision,  however,  was 
inserted  by  which  the  necessary  funds  for  the  work  will  be  provided  by 
the  University  of  Virginia  until  the  meeting  of  the  next  Assembly  in 
1916. 

LOUISIANA. 

Louisiana  has  an  approximate  forest  area  of  22,000,000  acres,  two- 
thirds  of  which,  it  is  estimated,  is  held  by  lumber  companies  and  other 
large  owners,  and  the  remainder  by  farmers.  As  a result  of  repeated 
burning,  some  4,000,000  acres  of  woodland  are  now  barren. 

The  Department  of  Forestry  was  authorized  in  1904,  the  Register  of 
the  Land  Office  being  ex  officio  Commissioner  of  Forestry.  A fire 
warden  system  Avas  established  by  the  parishes.  In  1910  this  laiv  was  re- 
pealed and  a comprehensive  law  passed.  The  tax  feature  of  this  law  Avas 
declared  unconstitutional  by  the  Supreme  Court,  so  that  an  amendment 
to  the  Constitution  Avas  necessary.  This  Avas  passed  in  1912,  and  the  laAV 
was  again  amended  in  the  same  year.  Owing,  however,  to  strenuous 
opposition  to  the  collection  of  the  tax  imposed,  the  law  has  not  yet  been 
put  fully  into  force. 

Organization. — The  State  Conservation  Commission  consists  of  three 
persons  appointed  by  the  Governor  Avith  the  consent  of  the  Senate,  Avho 
shall  he  men  well  informed  on  the  three  following  branches : Conserva- 
tion of  wild  life,  game  and  the  requirements  for  its  conseiwation ; oysters, 
salt-  and  fresh-Avater  fish  of  the  State ; the  forest  and  mineral  resources 
of  the  State.  The  chairman  of  this  commission  receives  a salary  of 
$3,000  per  annum,  AAdiile  the  other  tAvo  persons  are  paid  $2,400  per 
annum  each.  Necessary  traveling  expenses  are  also  alloAved  them. 

State  Forester. — Under  the  Conseiwation  Commission  and  responsible 
to  it,  the  Register  of  the  State  Land  Office  is  appointed  ex  officio  State 
Forester.  A Deputy  State  Forester  at  a salary  of  $1,800  a year  and  an 
alloAvanee  of  $600  a year  for  traveling  and  office  expenses  is  appointed 
to  take  charge  of  the  forestry  work  of  the  State.  This  official  “shall  be 


72 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


a person  practically  and  theoretically  educated  in  silviculture.”  (Owing 
to  lack  of  funds,  the  technically  trained  forester  has  not  yet  been  ap- 
pointed.) 

Among  other  things,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  State  Forester  “to  have  direc- 
tion of  all  forest  interests  and  all  matters  pertaining  to  forestry  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  State,  to  take  such  action  as  is  authorized  by  the 
law  to  prevent  and  extinguish  forest  fires,  enforce  all  laws  pertaining  to 
forests  and  woodland,  and  prosecute  for  any  violation  of  these  laws.” 
With  this  authority  it  is  presumed  the  Conservation  Commission  can 
organize  and  maintain  an  adequate  fire-fighting  force  as  soon  as  suffi- 
cient money  is  available. 

Railroads. — All  railroad  companies  operating  through  forest  lands 
must  keep  their  rights  of  way  clear  of  all  combustible  materials  and 
safely  dispose  of  the  same  between  November  15th  and  April  15th.  Xo 
railroad  company  shall  permit  its  employees  to  leave  or  deposit  fire  or 
live  coals  on  its  right  of  way,  other  than  between  the  rails,  in  the  vicinity 
of  woodland.  When  trainmen  discover  fires  along  their  right  of  way 
they  shall  report  the  same  at  the  next  telegraph  station.  In  seasons  of 
drought  railroad  companies  must  give  particular  instructions  to  the  sec- 
tion foremen  for  the  prevention  and  prompt  extinguishment  of  fires 
originating  on  their  right  of  way. 

License  Tax  for  Conservation. — In  order  to  provide  funds  for  the 
enforcement  of  the  conservation  law  a special  annual  license  tax  is  pro- 
vided for  in  Act  Xo.  209  of  1912,  which  is  based  upon  the  then  recently 
passed  amendment  to  the  Constitution.  This  tax  is  levied  each  year 
“upon  each  person  or  association  of  persons,  firm,  or  corporation  pursu- 
ing the  business  of  severing  natural  products,  including  all  forms  of  tim- 
ber, turpentine,  and  minerals  . . . from  the  soil.  The  said  person, 

firm,  association,  or  corporation  shall  at  the  same  time  pay  to  the  tax 
collector  of  the  parish  where  said  product  is  taken  or  severed  from  the 
soil  a license  tax  equal  to  one-half  of  one  per  centum  (%%)  of  the  gross 
value  of  the  total  production  thereof,  less  the  royalty  interest  accruing 
to  the  owner  thereof,  the  license  on  which  shall  be  paid  by  said  land  or 
royalty  owner.  And  the  value  of  all  products  shall  be  computed  at  the 
place  where  the  same  are  severed  or  taken  from  the  soil ; and  the  value 
of  all  forms  of  timber,  for  the  purposes  of  this  act,  shall  be  computed  in 
their  manufactured  state,  after  severance  from  the  soil.” 

After  several  months  of  disagreement  between  lumbermen  and  the 
State  Auditor  as  to  on  what  basis  returns  for  the  license  tax  were  to  be 
made  on  the  different  species  of  timber  trees  cut,  the  following  scale  was 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


73 


agreed  upon:  Yellow  pine,  $2.50  per  thousand  feet;  cypress,  $3  per 
thousand ; tupelo  gum,  $1  per  thousand ; cottonwood  and  red  gum,  $2  per 
thousand ; hickory,  oak,  and  ash,  $3  per  thousand.  These  figures  repre- 
sent the  agreed  value  of  the  timber  severed  from  the  stump  at  place  of 
cutting,  so  that  the  tax  of  i/2  per  cent  is  levied  on  these  values. 

Comment. — Louisiana  is  the  only  State  which  is  trying  to  protect  its 
forests  with  a direct  tax  upon  the  user  of  the  forest.  “He  who  severs, 
and  profits  by  exhaustion  of  the  natural  resources  of  the  State,  in  the 
creation  of  which  he  had  no  hand,  should,  in  addition  to  the  common 
burden  of  the  expense  of  government,  borne  by  all  alike,  bear  an  addi- 
tional burden  of  taxation,  the  proceeds  to  go  towards  replacing  either  the 
resource  which  he  has  removed  or,  if  that  be  impossible,  toward  renew- 
ing one  which  by  its  nature  is  renewable.”* 

The  Conservation  Commission  speaks  of  this  method  of  taxation  as  a 
new  principle  of  government.  It  formulates  this  principle  in  the  follow- 
ing words : “The  exploiters  of  our  natural  resources  should  bear  an 
extra  burden  of  taxation,  sufficient  in  a measure  not  only  to  regulate 
their  own  business,  but  to  replace  the  resources  which  they  exhaust.”* 

ALABAMA. 

Alabama,  with  practically  the  same  total  area  as  Yorth  Carolina,  has 
approximately  the  same  amount  of  forest  land  or  a little  more  than  60 
per  cent  of  the  total  area.  Practically  all  of  the  woodland  is  in  private 
hands,  44  per  cent  of  it  being  owned  and  controlled  by  farmers.  The 
remainder  is  in  the  hands  of  large  lumber  companies  and  similar  owners. 
In  1907  a comprehensive  forestry  law  was  enacted ; hut  as  it  carried  no 
appropriation  and  none  has  been  made  since,  the  law  has  been  inopera- 
tive— at  any  rate,  as  far  as  fire  protection  is  concerned.  The  object  of  the 
law,  according  to  the  title  of  the  act,  was  “to  provide  for  the  protection  of 
the  forests  of  Alabama;  to  establish  and  create  a State  Commission  of 
Forestry,  to  consist  of  the  Governor,  a member  of  the  State  Tax  Commis- 
sion, the  State  Game  and  Fish  Commissioner,  the  Commissioner  of  Agri- 
culture and  Industries,  a member  of  the  United  States  Forest  Service,  the 
Professor  of  Forestry  in  the  Alabama  Polytechnic  Institute,  and  one 
practical  lumberman ; to  declare  the  county  game  and  fish  wardens,  for- 
est wardens ; to  declare  constables,  justices  of  the  peace,  sheriffs  and 
deputy  sheriffs,  ex-officio  forest  wardens,  and  to  provide  for  the  appoint- 
ment of  deputy  forest  wardens  by  the  Governor ; to  exempt  from  taxation 
for  a period  of  ten  years  land  which  shall  be  planted  in  trees ; to  appro- 


Report  of  the  Louisiana  Conservation  Commission  of  1910-12. 


74 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


priate  the  sum  of  $500  annually  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act ; to  create  a forest  reserve  fund,  and  to  provide  for  the 
payment  of  all  hues,  forfeitures,  and  penalties  arising  under  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act  into  said  fund.” 

Comment. — The  law  itself  was  copied  more  or  less  closely  from  the 
Maryland  law,  and  as  soon  as  a sufficient  appropriation  can  be  secured 
to  put  it  into  effect  it  will  furnish  Alabama  with  a fairly  effective  fire 
protective  system. 

TENNESSEE. 

Tennessee  with  15,000,000  acres  of  forest  land  has  no  fire  protective 
system  and  appropriates  no  money  for  the  purpose  of  forest  protection. 
In  1907  a law  was  passed  providing  for  a fire  protective  system  in  the 
Fish,  Game,  and  Forestry  Department.  Xo  appropriation,  however,  has 
been  made  and  absolutely  nothing  has  been  done  to  carry  out  the  pro- 
visions of  the  law. 

The  only  work  along  forestry  lines  which  has  been  done  in  Tennessee 
was  carried  out  by  the  Xational  Government  in  cooperation  with  the 
State  Geological  Survey.  Three  or  more  reports  have  been  prepared  by 
Government  agents  and  published  by  the  State  Survey.  In  one  of  these 
occur  the  following  passages  : 

“There  is  now  a fire  law  on  the  statute-books  which  provides  penalties  for 
setting  forest  fires  carelessly  or  willfully,  but  it  lacks  an  appropriation  to 
make  it  effective. 

“The  legislation  in  regard  to  forestry  is  of  a very  scattered  nature.  Iu 
addition  to  the  fire  law,  it  consists  chiefly  in  giving  investigative  functions  to 
three  different  departments — the  State  Geological  Survey,  the  Department  of 
Game,  Fish,  and  Forestry,  and  the  Commissioner  of  Agriculture.  It  is  time 
to  consider  what  legislation  is  needed  in  order  to  unify  and  round  out  a con- 
sistent and  complete  forest  law,” 

During  the  past  spring,  namely,  in  February,  1914,  the  Geological 
Commission  created  a Division  of  Forestry  in  the  Geological  Survey. 
A State  Forester  has  been  appointed  to  take  charge  of  this  division,  who 
is  to  assume  his  new  duties  the  coming  autumn. 

Comment. — A complete  forest  law  providing  for  a separate  Forestry 
Department,  a professional  forester,  etc.,  was  introduced  into  the  Legis- 
lature in  1913,  chiefly  through  the  efforts  of  the  Southern  Lumberman. 
It  failed  of  passage  for  political  reasons.  Such  a law.  carrying  a suffi- 
cient appropriation,  is  greatly  needed. 


FOREST  FIRES  1ST  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


75 


NORTH  CAROLINA. 

jNTorth  Carolina  lias  no  fire  protective  system  and  very  inadequate  fire 
preventive  laws.*  lN"evertheless,  for  purposes  of  comparison  the  follow- 
ing facts  are  here  given : 

iSTorth  Carolina  has  an  approximate  area  of  31,000,000  acres.  It  is 
estimated  that  63  per  cent  or  19,600,000  acres  of  this  is  forest  land.  The 
State  is  naturally  divided  into  three  regions,  the  Mountain  or  western, 
the  Piedmont  or  central,  and  the  Coastal  Plain  or  eastern  region.  Ap- 
proximately 75  per  cent  of  the  Mountain  region  is  absolute  forest  land 
and  should  be  kept  permanently  in  woods.  The  greater  part  of  the 
Coastal  Plain  region  will  eventually  become  agricultural  land,  but  until 
the  population  is  largely  increased  most  of  it  should  be  growing  a crop  of 
timber.  The  Piedmont  is  largely  a woodlot  region,  the  forests  consti- 
tuting from  30  to  60  per  cent  of  the  average  farm. 

For  the  past  five  years  the  forests  of  this  State  have  sustained  an 
annual  loss  from  fires  of  approximately  $650,000  a year.f  The  worst 
fires  occur  in  the  Mountain  and  Coastal  Plain  regions. 

ISTortli  Carolina  makes  no  appropriation  whatever  for  forest  protec- 
tion, and  no  direct  appropriation  for  forestry  in  any  form.  The  For- 
ester, however,  is  employed  by  the  State  Geological  and  Economic  Sur- 
vey to  do  educational  and  propaganda  work  throughout  the  State.  Im- 
proved forestry  laws  have  been  introduced  into  each  General  Assembly 
for  the  past  six  or  eight  years,  but  there  has  not  been  sufficient  public 
interest  in  the  matter  to  secure  their  passage. 


♦For  North  Carolina  tire  laws,  see  page  IT. 
fSee  Table  2,  page  0. 


« 


PUBLICATIONS 


OF  THE 

NORTH  CAROLINA  GEOLOGICAL  AND  ECONOMIC  SURVEY. 


BULLETINS. 

1.  Iron  Ores  of  North  Carolina,  by  Henry  B.  C.  Nitze,  1893.  8°,  239  pp.,  20 
pl.,  and  map.  Out  of  print. 

2.  Building  and  Ornamental  Stones  in  North  Carolina,  by  T.  L.  Watson  and 
F.  B.  Laney  in  collaboration  with  George  P.  Merrill,  1906,  8°,  283  pp.,  32  pl., 
2 figs.  Postage  25  cents.  Clotli-hound  copy  30  cents  extra. 

3.  Gold  Deposits  in  North  Carolina,  by  Henry  B.  C.  Nitze  and  George  B. 

Hanna,  1S96.  8°,  196  pp.,  11  pl.,  and  map.  Out  of  print. 

4.  Road  Material  and  Road  Construction  in  North  Carolina,  by  J.  A.  Holmes 

and  William  Cain,  1S93.  8°,  88  pp.  Out  of  print. 

5.  The  Forests,  Forest  Lands  and  Forest  Products  of  Eastern  North  Caro- 
lina, by  W.  W.  Ashe,  1894.  8°,  12S  pp.,  5 pl.  Postage  5 cents. 

6.  The  Timber  Trees  of  North  Carolina,  by  Gifford  Pinehot  and  W.  W.  Ashe, 
1S97.  8°,  227  pp.,  22  pl.  Out  of  print. 

7.  Forest  Fires : Their  Destructive  Work.  Causes  and  Prevention,  by  W.  W. 

Ashe,  1S95.  8°,  66  pp.,  1 pl.  Postage  5 cents. 

8.  Water-powers  in  North  Carolina,  by  George  F.  Swain.  Joseph  A.  Holmes 
and  E.  W.  Myers,  1899.  S°,  362  pp.,  16  pl.  Postage  16  cents. 

9.  Monazite  and  Monazite  Deposits  in  North  Carolina,  by  Henry  B.  C.  Nitze, 
1895.  8°,  47  pp.,  5 pl.  Out  of  print. 

10.  Gold  Mining  in  North  Carolina  and  other  Appalachian  States,  by  Henry 

B.  C.  Nitze  and  A.  J.  Wilkins,  1897.  8°,  164  pp.,  10  pl.  Out  of  print. 

11.  Corundum  and  the  Basic  Magnesian  Rocks  of  Western  North  Carolina, 
by  J.  Yolney  Lewis,  1895.  8°,  107  pp.,  6 pl.  Out  of  print. 

12.  History  of  the  Gems  Found  in  North  Carolina,  by  George  Frederick 
Kunz,  1907.  8°,  60  pp.,  15  pl.  Postage  8 cents.  Cloth-hound  copy  30  cents 
extra. 

13.  Clay  Deposits  and  Clay  Industries  in  North  Carolina,  by  Heinrich  Ries, 
1897.  8°,  157  pp.,  12  pl.  Postage  10  cents. 

14.  The  Cultivation  of  the  Diamond-back  Terrapin,  by  R.  E.  Coker,  1906. 
8°,  67  pp.,  23  pl.,  2 figs.  Out  of  print. 

15.  Experiments  in  Oyster  Culture  in  Pamlico  Sound.  North  Carolina,  by 

Robert  E.  Coker,  1907.  8°,  74  pp.,  17  pl.,  11  figs.  Postage  6 cents. 

16.  Shade  Trees  for  North  Carolina,  by  W.  W.  Ashe.  1908.  8°,  74  pp.,  10  pl., 

16  figs.  Postage  6 cents. 

17.  Terracing  of  Farm  Lands,  by  W.  W.  Ashe,  1908.  8°,  3S  pp.,  6 pl.,  2 figs. 
Postage  If  cents. 

18.  Bibliography  of  North  Carolina  Geology.  Mineralogy  and  Geography, 
with  a list  of  Maps,  by  Francis  Baker  Laney  and  Katherine  Hill  Wood,  1909. 
8°,  428  pp.  Postage  25  cents.  Cloth-hound  copy  30  cents  extra. 

19.  The  Tin  Deposits  of  the  Carolinas,  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt  and  Douglas 

B.  Sterrett,  1905.  8°,  64  pp.,  8 figs.  Postage  If  cents. 

20.  Water-powers  of  North  Carolina : An  Appendix  to  Bulletin  8,  1910.  8°, 

383  pp.  Postage  25  cents. 

21.  The  Gold  Hill  Mining  District  of  North  Carolina,  by  Francis  Baker 

Laney,  1910.  8°,  137  pp.,  23  pl.,  5 figs.  Postage  15  cents. 


78 


PUBLICATION’S  OF  THE  SURVEY. 


22.  A Report  on  the  Cid  Mining  District,  Davidson  County,  X.  C„  by  J.  E. 
Pogue,  .Tr.,  1911.  8°,  114  pp.,  22  pi.,  5 figs.  Postage  15  cents. 

23.  Forest  Conditions  in  Western  North  Carolina,  by  J.  S.  Holmes.  1911.  S°, 
115  pp.,  8 pi.  Postage  15  cents. 

ECONOMIC  PAPERS. 

1.  The  Maple-sugar  Industry  in  Western  North  Carolina,  by  W.  W.  Ashe. 
1897.  8°,  34  pp.  Postage  2 cents. 

2.  Recent  Road  Legislation  in  North  Carolina,  by  J.  A.  Holmes.  Out  of 
print. 

3.  Talc  and  Pyrophyllite  Deposits  in  North  Carolina,  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt. 

1900.  8°,  29  pp.,  2 maps.  Postage  2 cents. 

4.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1900,  by  Joseph  Hyde 

Pratt,  1901.  8°,  36  pp.,  and  map.  Postage  2 cents. 

Takes  up  in  some  detail  Occurrences  of  Gold,  Silver,  Lead  and  Zinc,  Copper,  Iron. 
Manganese,  Corundum,  Granite,  Mica,  Talc,  Pyrophyllite,  Graphite,  Kaolin,  Gem 
Minerals,  Monazite,  Tungsten,  Building  Stones,  and  Coal  in  North  Carolina. 

5.  Road  Laws  of  North  Carolina,  by  J.  A.  Holmes.  Out  of  print. 

6.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1901,  by  Joseph  Hyde 

Pratt,  1902.  8°,  102  pp.  Postage  \ cents. 

Gives  a List  of  Minerals  found  in  North  Carolina;  describes  the  Treatment  of  Sul- 
phuret  Gold  Ores,  giving  Localities;  takes  up  the  Occurrence  of  Copper  in  the  Vir- 
gilina,  Gold  Hill,  and  Ore  Knob  districts;  gives  Occurrence  and  Uses  of  Corundum; 
a List  of  Garnets,  describing  Localities;  the  Occurrence,  Associated  Minerals,  Uses 
and  Localities  of  Mica;  the  Occurrence  of  North  Carolina  Feldspar,  with  Analyses; 
an  extended  description  of  North  Carolina  Gems  and  Gem  Minerals;  Occurrences  of 
Monazite,  Barytes,  Ocher;  describes  and  gives  Occurrences  of  Graphite  and  Coal; 
describes  and  gives  Occurrences  of  Building  Stones,  including  Limestone;  describes 
and  gives  Uses  for  the  various  forms  of  Clay;  and  under  the  head  of  “Other  Eco- 
nomic Minerals”  describes  and  gives  Occurrences  of  Chromite,  Asbestos  and  Zircon. 

7.  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1902,  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt, 
1903.  8°,  27  pp.  Out  of  print. 

8.  The  Mining  Industry  iu  North  Carolina  During  1903,  by  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt,  1904.  8°,  74  pp.  Postage  4 cents. 

Gives  descriptions  of  Mines  worked  for  Gold  in  1903;  descriptions  of  Properties 
worked  for  Copper  during  1903,  together  with  assay  of  ore  from  Twin-Edwards 
Mine;  Analyses  of  Limonite  ore  from  Wilson  Mine;  the  Occurrence  of  Tin;  in  some 
detail  the  Occurrences  of  Abrasives;  Occurrences  of  Monazite  and  Zircon;  Occur- 
rences and  Varieties  of  Graphite,  giving  Methods  of  Cleaning;  Occurrences  of 
Marble  and  other  forms  of  Limestone;  Analyses  of  Kaolin  from  Barber  Creek,  Jack- 
son  County,  North  Carolina. 

9.  The  Mining  Industry  iu  North  Carolina  During  1904,  by  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt,  1905.  S°,  95  pp.  Postage  4 cents. 

Gives  Mines  Producing  Gold  and  Silver  during  1903  and  1904  and  Sources  of  the 
Gold  Produced  during  1904;  describes  the  mineral  Chromite,  giving  Analyses  of 
Selected  Samples  of  Chromite  from  Mines  in  Yancey  County;  describes  Commercial 
Varieties  of  Mica,  giving  the  manner  in  which  it  occurs  in  North  Carolina,  Percent- 
age of  Mica  in  the  Dikes,  Methods  of  Mining,  Associated  Minerals,  Localities,  Uses; 
describes  the  mineral  Barytes,  giving  Method  of  Cleaning  and  Preparing  Barytes  for 
Market ; describes  the  use  of  Monazite  as  used  in  connection  with  the  Preparation 
of  the  Bunsen  Burner,  and  goes  into  the  use  of  Zircon  in  connection  with  the  Nernst 
Lamp,  giving  a List  of  the  Principal  Yttrium  Minerals;  describes  the  minerals  con- 
taining Corundum  Gems,  Hiddenite  and  Other  Gem  Minerals,  and  gives  New  Occur- 
rences of  these  Gems;  describes  the  mineral  Graphite  and  gives  new  Uses  for  same. 

10.  Oyster  Culture  in  North  Carolina,  by  Robert  E.  Coker,  1905.  S°,  39  pp. 
Out  of  print. 

11.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1905,  by  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt,  1906.  8°,  95  pp.  Postage  4 cents. 

Describes  the  mineral  Cobalt  and  the  principal  minerals  that  contain  Cobalt: 
Corundum  Localities;  Monazite  and  Zircon  in  considerable  detail,  giving  Analyses  of 
Thorianite;  describes  Tantalum  Minerals  and  gives  description  of  the  Tantalum 
Lamp;  gives  brief  description  of  Peat  Deposits;  the  manufacture  of  Sand-lime 
Brick:  Operations  of  Concentrating  Plant  in  Black  Sand  Investigations;  gives  Laws 
Relating  to  Mines,  Coal  Mines.  Mining,  Mineral  Interest  in  Land,  Phosphate  Rock, 
Marl  Beds. 


PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE  SURVEY. 


79 


12.  Investigations  Relative  to  tlie  Shad  Fisheries  of  North  Carolina,  by  John 

N.  Cobb,  1906.  8°,  74  pp.,  S maps.  Postage  6 cents. 

13.  Report  of  Committee  on  Fisheries  in  North  Carolina.  Compiled  by 

Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  1906.  S°,  IS  pp.  Out  of  print. 

14.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1906.  by  Joseph  Hyde 

Pratt,  1907.  8°,  144  pp.,  20  pi.,  and  5 figs.  Postage  10  cents. 

Under  the  head  of  “Recent  Changes  in  Gold  Mining  in  North  Carolina,”  gives 
methods  of  mining,  describing  Log  Washers,  Square  Sets,  Cyanide  Plants,  etc.,  and 
detailed  descriptions  of  Gold  Deposits  and  alines  are  given;  Copper  Deposits  of 
Swain  County  are  described;  Mica  Deposits  of  Western  North  Carolina  are  described, 
giving  Distribution  and  General  Character,  General  Geology,  Occurrence,  Associated 
Minerals,  Mining  and  Treatment  of  Mica.  Origin,  together  with  a description  of 
many  of  the  mines;  Monazite  is  taken  up  in  considerable  detail  as  to  Location  and 
Occurrence,  Geology,  including  classes  of  Rocks,  Age,  Associations,  Weathering, 
method  of  Mining  and  Cleaning,  description  of  Monazite  in  Original  Matrix. 

15.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1907.  by  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt,  1908.  8°,  176  pp.,  13  pi.,  and  4 figs.  Postage  15  cents. 

Takes  up  in  detail  the  Copper  of  the  Gold  Hill  Copper  District;  a description  of  the 
Uses  of  Monazite  and  its  Associated  Minerals;  descriptions  of  Ruby,  Emerald,  Beryl, 
Hiddenite,  and  Amethyst  Localities;  a detailed  description  -with  Analyses  of  the 
Principal  Mineral  Springs  of  North  Carolina;  a description  of  the  Peat  Formations 
in  North  Carolina,  together  with  a detailed  account  of  the  Uses  of  Peat  and  the 
Results  of  an  Experiment  Conducted  by  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  on 
Peat  from  Elizabeth  City,  North  Carolina. 

16.  Report  of  Convention  called  by  Governor  R.  B.  Glenn  to  Investigate  the 
Fishing  Industries  in  North  Carolina,  compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State 
Geologist,  1908.  8°,  45  pp.  Out  of  print. 

17.  Proceedings  of  Drainage  Convention  held  at  New  Bern.  North  Carolina. 
September  9,  190S.  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt.  1908.  8°,  94  pp.  Out  of 
print. 

IS.  Proceedings  of  Second  Annual  Drainage  Convention  held  at  New  Bern. 
North  Carolina.  November  11  and  12.  1909.  compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt, 
and  containing  North  Carolina  Drainage  Law,  1909.  8°,  50  pp.  Out  of  print. 

19.  Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  During  1909.  by  J.  S.  Holmes,  Forester, 

1910.  S°,  52  pp.,  9 pi.  Out  of  print. 

20.  Wood-using  Industries  of  North  Carolina,  by  Roger  E.  Simmons,  under 
the  direction  of  J.  S.  Holmes  aud  H.  S.  Sackett.  1910.  S°,  74  pp.,  6 pi.  Post- 
age 7 cents. 

21.  Proceedings  of  the  Third  Annual  Drainage  Convention,  held  under 
Auspices  of  the  North  Carolina  Drainage  Association : and  the  North  Carolina 
Drainage  Law  (codified).  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt.  1911.  8°,  67  pp., 
3 pi.  Out  of  print. 

22.  Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  During  1910.  by  J.  S.  Holmes,  Forester, 

1911.  8°,  4S  pp.  Out  of  print. 

23.  Mming  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1908,  ’09.  and  TO.  by  Joseph 
Hyde  Pratt  and  Miss  H.  M.  Berry,  1911.  8°,  134  pp.,  1 pi.,  27  figs.  Postage 
10  cents. 

Gives  report  on  Virgilina  Copper  District  of  North  Carolina  and  Virginia,  by  F.  B. 
Laney;  Detailed  report  on  Mica  Deposits  of  North  Carolina,  by  Douglas  B.  Sterrett; 
Detailed  report  on  Monazite.  by  Douglas  B.  Sterrett;  Reports  on  various  Gem  Min- 
erals, by  Douglas  B.  Sterrett;  Information  and  Analyses  concerning  certain  Mineral 
Springs;  Extract  from  Chance  Report  of  the  Dan  River  and  Deep  River  Coal  Fields: 
Some  notes  on  the  Peat  Industry,  by  Prof.  Charles  A.  Davis:  Extract  from  report  of 
Arthur  Keith  on  the  Nantahala  Marble;  Description  of  the  manufacture  of  Sand- 
limo  Brick. 

24.  Fishing  Industry  of  North  Carolina,  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  1911.  8°,  44 
pp.  Out  of  print. 

25.  Proceedings  of  Second  Annual  Convention  of  the  North  Carolina  For- 

estry Association,  held  at  Raleigh.  North  Carolina,  February  21.  1912.  Forest 
Fires  in  North  Carolina  During  1911.  Suggested  Forestry  Legislation.  Com- 
piled by  J.  S.  Holmes.  Forester.  1912.  S°,  71  pp.  Postage  5 cents. 


80 


PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE  SURVEY. 


26.  Proceedings  of  Fourth  Annual  Drainage  Convention,  held  at  Elizabeth 
City,  North  Carolina,  November  15  and  16,  1911,  compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt,  State  Geologist,  1912.  8°,  45  pp.  Postage  3 cents. 

27.  Highway  Work  in  North  Carolina,  containing  a Statistical  Report  of 

Road  Work  during  1911,  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  and  Miss 
H.  M.  Berry,  Secretary,  1912.  8°,  145  pp.,  11  figs.  Postage  10  cents. 

28.  Culverts  and  Small  Bridges  for  Country  Roads  in  North  Carolina,  by 
C.  R.  Thomas  and  T.  F.  Hic-kerson,  1912.  8°,  56  pp.,  14  figs.,  20  pi.  Postage 
10  cents. 

29.  Report  of  the  Fisheries  Convention  Held  at  New  Bern,  N.  C.,  December 
13,  1911,  compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  together  with  a 
Compendium  of  the  Stenographic  Notes  of  the  Meetings  Held  on  the  Two  Trips 
taken  by  the  Legislative  Fish  Committee  Appointed  by  the  General  Assembly 
of  1909,  and  the  Legislation  Recommended  by  this  Committee,  1912.  S°,  302 
pp.  Postage  15  cents. 

30.  Proceedings  of  the  Annual  Convention  of  the  North  Carolina  Good 
Roads  Association  held  at  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  August  1 and  2,  1912,  in  Coopera- 
tion with  the  North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey.  Compiled  by 
Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  and  Miss  II.  M.  Berry,  Secretary,  1912. 
8°,  109  pp.  Postage  10  cents. 

31.  Proceedings  of  Fifth  Annual  Drainage  Convention  held  at  Raleigh, 
N.  C.,  November  26  and  27,  1912.  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State 
Geologist.  8°,  56  pp.,  6 pi.  Postage  5 cents. 

32.  Public  Roads  are  Public  Necessities,  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State 

Geologist,  1913.  8°,  62  pp.  Postage  5 cents. 

33.  Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  during  1912  and  National  and  Associa- 
tion Cooperative  Fire  Control,  by  J.  S.  Holmes,  Forester,  1913.  8°,  63  pp. 
Postage  5 cents. 

34.  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1911-12,  by  Joseph  Hyde 

Pratt,  State  Geologist,  1914.  8°,  314  pp.,  23  pi.,  12  figs.  Postage  15  cents. 

35.  Good  Roads  Days,  November  5 and  6,  1913.  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt,  State  Geologist,  and  Miss  H.  M.  Berry,  Secretary.  8°,  102  pp..  11  pi. 
Postage  10  cents. 

36.  Proceedings  of  the  North  Carolina  Good  Roads  Association,  held  at 
Morehead  City,  N.  C.,  July  31  and  August  1.  1913.  in  cooperation  with  the 
North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey.  Statistical  Report  of  High- 
way Work  in  North  Carolina  During  1912.  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt. 
State  Geologist,  and  Miss  H.  M.  Berry,  Secretary.  S°,  127  pp..  7 figs.  Postage 
10  cents. 

37.  Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  During  1913  and  a Summary  of  State 
Forest  Fire  Prevention  in  the  United  States,  by  J.  S.  Holmes.  Forester,  1914. 
S°,  82  pp.  Postage  8 cents. 

VOLUMES. 

Vol.  I.  Corundum  and  the  Basic  Magnesian  Rocks  in  Western  North  Caro- 
lina. by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt  and  J.  Volney  Lewis.  1905.  S°,  464  pp..  44  ph. 
35  figs.  Postage  32  cents.  Cloth-bound  copy  30  cents  extra. 

Vol.  II.  Fishes  of  North  Carolina,  by  H.  M.  Smith.  1907.  S°,  453  pp.,  21  pi.. 
18S  figs.  Postage  30  cents. 

Vol.  III.  The  Coastal  Plain  Deposits  of  North  Carolina,  by  William  Bullock 
Clark,  Benjamin  L.  Miller.  L.  W.  Stephenson,  B.  L.  Johnson,  and  Horatio  N. 
Parker,  1912.  8°,  509  pp.,  62  ph,  21  figs.  Postage  35  cents. 

Pt.  I. — The  Physiography  and  Geology  of  the  Coastal  Plain  of  North  Caro- 
lina, by  Wm.  Bullock  Clark,  Ben.iamin  L.  Miller,  and  L.  W.  Stephenson. 

Pt.  II. — The  Water  Resources  of  the  Coastal  Plain  of  North  Carolina,  by 
L.  W.  Stephenson  and  B.  L.  Johnson. 

Vol.  IV.  Birds  of  North  Carolina.  In  press. 


PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE  SURVEY. 


81 


BIENNIAL  REPORTS. 


First  Biennial  Report.  1S91-1S92.  J.  A.  Holmes,  State  Geologist,  1893.  8°, 
111  pp..  12  pi.,  2 figs.  Postage  6 cents. 

Administrative  report,  giving  Object  and  Organization  of  the  Survey;  Investiga- 
tions of  Iron  Ores,  Building  Stone.  Geological  Work  in  Coastal  Plain  Region,  in- 
cluding supplies  of  drinking-waters  in  eastern  counties.  Report  on  Forests  and  Forest 
Products,  Coal  and  Marble,  Investigations  of  Diamond  Drill. 

Biennial  Report,  1893-1891,  J.  A.  Holmes,  State  Geologist,  1894.  S°,  15  pp. 
Postage  1 cent. 

Administrative  report. 

Biennial  Report,  1S95-1S96.  J.  A.  Holmes,  State  Geologist.  1896.  S°.  IT  pp. 
Postage  1 cent. 

Administrative  report. 

Biennial  Report.  1S97-189S,  J.  A.  Holmes,  State  Geologist,  1S9S.  S°,  2S  pp. 
Postage  2 cents. 

Administrative  report. 

Biennial  Report,  1S99-1900.  J.  A.  Holmes,  State  Geologist,  1900.  S°,  20  pp. 

Postage  2 cents. 

Administrative  report. 


Biennial  Report.  1901-1902,  J.  A.  Holmes.  State  Geologist.  1902.  S°,  15  pp. 

Postage  1 cent. 

Administrative  report. 


Biennial  Report,-  1903-1904,  J.  A.  Holmes,  State  Geologist.  1905.  S°,  32  pp. 

Postage  2 cents. 

Administrative  report. 


Biennial  Report.  1905-1906.  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist.  1907.  S°,  60 
pp.  Postage  3 cents. 

Administrative  report;  report  on  certain  swamp  lands  belonging  to  the  State,  by 
W.  W.  Ashe;  it  also  gives  certain  magnetic  observations  at  North  Carolina  stations. 


Biennial  Report.  1907-1908,  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  190S.  S°, 
60  pp..  2 pi.  Postage  5 cents. 

Administrative  report.  Contains  Special  Report  on  an  examination  of  the  Sand 
Banks  along  the  North  Carolina  Coast,  by  Jay  F.  Bond,  Forest  Assistant.  United 
States  Forest  Service;  certain  magnetic  observations  at  North  Carolina  stations; 
Results  of  an  Investigation  Relating  to  Clam  Cultivation,  by  Howard  E.  Enders  of 
Purdue  University. 

Biemiial  Report.  1909-1910,  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt.  State  Geologist.  1911.  8°, 
152  pp.  Postage  10  cents. 

Administrative  report  and  contains  Agreements  for  Cooperation  in  Statistical 
Work,  and  Topographical  and  Traverse  Mapping  Work  with  the  United  States 
Geological  Survey;  Forest  Work  with  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture 
(Forest  Service) ; List  of  Topographic  maps  of  North  Carolina  and  counties  partly 
or  wholly  topographically  mapped;  description  of  special  Highways  in  North  Caro- 
lina; suggested  Road  Legislation;  list  of  Drainage  Districts  and  Results  of  Third 
Annual  Drainage  Convention;  Forestry  reports  relating  to  Connolly  Tract,  Buncombe 
County  and  Transylvania  County  State  Farms;  certain  Watersheds;  Reforestation 
of  Cut-over  and  Abandoned  Farm  Lands  on  the  Woodlands  of  the  Salem  Academy 
and  College;  Recommendations  for  the  Artificial  Regeneration  of  Longleaf  Pine  at 
Pinehurst;  Act  regulating  the  use  of  and  for  the  Protection  of  Meridian  Monuments 
and  Standards  of  Measure  at  the  several  county-seats  in  North  Carolina;  list  of 
Magnetic  Declination  at  the  county-seats.  January  1.  1910;  letter  of  Fish  Commis- 
sioner of  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Fisheries  relating  to  the  conditions  of  the 
North  Carolina  fish  industries;  report  of  the  Survey  for  the  North  Carolina  Fish 
Commission  referring  to  dutch  or  pound-net  fishing  in  Albemarle  and  Croatan  sounds 
and  Chowan  River,  by  Gilbert  T.  Rude,  of  the  United  States  Coast  and  Geodetic 
Survey;  Historical  Sketch  of  the  several  North  Carolina  Geological  Surveys,  with 
list  of  publications  of  each. 

Biermial  Report.  1911-1912.  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt.  State  Geologist.  1913.  8°, 
118  pp.  Postage  7 cents. 

Administrative  report,  and  contains  reports  on  method  of  construction  and  esti- 
mate of  cost  of  road  improvement  in  Stantonsburg  Township,  Wilson  County;  report 
on  road  conditions  in  Dee  County;  report  on  preliminary  location  of  section  of  Spar- 


6 


82 


PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE  SURVEY. 


tanburg-Hendersonville  Highway  between  Tryon  and  Tuxedo;  report  of  road  work 
done  by  U.  S.  Office  of  Public  Roads  during  biennial  period;  experiments  with 
glutrin  on  the  sand-clay  road;  report  on  Central  Highway,  giving  Act  establishing 
and  report  of  trip  over  this  Highway;  suggested  road  legislation;  report  on  the 
Asheville  City  watershed;  report  on  the  Struan  property  at  Arden,  Buncombe 
County;  report  on  the  woodlands  on  the  farm  of  Dr.  J.  W.  Kilgore,  Iredell  County; 
report  on  examination  of  the  woodlands  on  the  Berry  place.  Orange  County;  report 
on  the  forest  property  of  Miss  Julia  A.  Thorns,  Asheboro,  Randolph  County;  report 
on  the  examination  of  the  forest  lands  of  the  Butters  Lumber  Company,  Columbus 
County;  proposed  forestry  legislation;  swamp  lands  and  drainage,  giving  drainage 
districts;  suggested  drainage  legislation;  proposed  Fisheries  Commission  bill. 


Samples  of  any  mineral  found  in  the  State  may  be  sent  to  the  office  of  the 
Geological  and  Economic  Survey  for  identification,  and  the  same  will  be  classi- 
fied free  of  charge.  It  must  be  understood,  however,  that  no  assays  or 
quantitative  determinations  will  be  made.  Samples  should  be  in  a lump 
form  if  possible,  and  marked  plainly  on  outside  of  package  with  name  of 
sender,  post-office  address,  etc. ; a letter  should  accompany  sample  and  stamp 
should  be  enclosed  for  reply. 


These  publications  are  mailed  to  libraries  and  to  individuals  who  may 
desire  information  on  any  of  the  special  subjects  named,  free  of  charge,  ex- 
cept that  in  each  case  applicants  for  the  reports  should  forward  the  amount 
of  postage  needed,  as  indicated  above,  for  mailing  the  bulletins  desired,  to  the 
State  Geologist,  Chapel  Hill,  N.  C. 


Date  Due 


Form  335— 40M— 6-39— S 

'553  N873  NVg?  44537 

N»C»  Geological  and  Econo- 
rriic  Survey:  Forast  Firee  in 
North  Carolina  during  1513 

— nflTr  ni'F  1 icci irn  m 


553  N873  No. 37 


44527 


